The Holy Innocents

Feast · martyr

  • 28 December (Roman Catholic Church)
  • 29 December (Eastern Orthodox Church)

The children of Bethlehem, kept inside the Christmas octave with Stephen and John — the three companions of the newborn Christ, one martyr in will and deed, one in will alone, one in deed alone. 28 December in Rome and 29 December in Byzantium.

After New Advent (Fathers and Catholic Encyclopedia).

Commemorating

Where this is recorded

  • Roman Catholic Church — the day, after Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar
  • Eastern Orthodox Church — the day, after The Typikon, ch. 48, the Menaion — 29 December, «Ст҃ы́хъ младе́нцєвъ, четырена́десѧти ты́сѧщъ, хрⷭ҇та̀ ра́ди и҆збїе́нныхъ ѿ и҆́рѡда въ виѳлее́мѣ і҆ꙋде́йстѣмъ», p. 358

Also on 28 December