Dateline: 12/01/98
"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour"
Matthew 24:44
The beginning of the liturgical year and the four Sundays before Christmas are celebrated by Christians as Advent, a season of preparedness, a time of waiting for the Adventus Domini (coming of the Lord). Advent didn't begin in antiquity -- it was established in the sixth century by Pope Gregory -- and Advent calendars have an even more recent origin, but in keeping with the spirit, throughout this month, we'll look, a week at a time, at ancient saints days celebrated in December.
Saints' Days
Important Romans could be deified after death. As gods, they required festivals, commemoration. This tradition was passed on to the saints and martyrs whose birthdays might be celebrated as the days on which they ascended into heaven.
We know from a book compiled by Furius Dionysius Philocalus, that by 354 A.D. some of the Christian saints and popes already had days set aside to honor them. The Calendar of Polemius Sylvius written in 448 contains a list of Christian festivals and saints' days as well as birthdates of important pre-Christians.
[From www.knight.org/advent/cathen/03158a.htm#saints Christian Calendar.]
Week I
Saints Days Dec 1-7
Dec. 2
[Source: saints.catholic.org/saints/bibiana.html] St. Bibiana (Vivian)
Tied to a pillar, beaten and tortured for her religious convictions, she died in Rome in the mid-fourth century under the rule of Julian the Apostate.
[Source: goa.goarch.org/access/calendar/December/DEC_02] Martyr Myrope of Chios
An Ephesian from the third century, she incurred the wrath of Prince Numerios for burying St. Isidore's corpse. As punishment, she was beaten and incarcerated. After she died, fragrance filled her cell and her body was buried beside St. Isiodre's.
Dec. 3
[Source: saints.catholic.org/saints/theophilusalexandria.html] St. Theodophilus of Alexandria
His correspondence with [Source: saints.catholic.org/saints/jerome.html] St. Jerome (347-419) survives. Patriarch of Alexandria from 385 (d. 412), he was hostile to all things pagan and an opponent of [Source: www.utm.edu/research/iep/o/origen.htm] Origen's (182-251).
Dec. 4
[Source: saints.catholic.org/saints/barbara.html] St. Barbara
Born a pagan, Barbara converted against her father's will. He denounced and executed her whereupon he was struck by lightning. 200-313 are outside guesses at dates for her birth and death.
[Source: cedar.evansville.edu/~ecoleweb/glossary/barbara.html] Barbara
From Ecole Initiative.
Dec. 6
[Source: www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/adnick.html] St. Nicholas
[Source: www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/2914/index.html] The Confessions of St. Nicholas
A fictional Autobiography.
[Source: www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/adnick.html] St. Nicholas An Example for Advent
From anonymous philanthropist to the saint best loved by [Source: www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/nick.html] children, a story of his life.
[Source: www.stmichael.org/Nicholas/StNich.html] St. Nicholas
The LIFE of The Holy Hierarch and Wonderworker NICHOLAS Archbishop Of Myra in Lycia, from St. Columba Press.
[Source: www.stmichael.org/Nicholas/StNich.html] The Life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Dec. 7
[Source: saints.catholic.org/saints/ambrose.html] St. Ambrose
On December 7 in about 374, Ambrose, governor of Milan was reluctantly made bishop. He died in 397 having led an eventful life opposing Arianism and social abuses.
[Source: cedar.evansville.edu/~ecoleweb/glossary/ambrose.html] St. Ambrose
From Ecole Initiative.
