Sunday before Nativity
December 23
On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from ages past have been well-pleasing to God, beginning from Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.
Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Ten Martyrs of Crete
December 23
These Saints, who were all from Crete, contested for piety's sake during the reign of Decius, in the year 250. Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, and Eunician were from Gortynia, the capital; Zoticus was from Knossos; Agathopus, from the port city of Panormus; Basilides, from Cydonia; Evarestus and Pompey, from Heraklion. Haled before the Governor as Christians, they were subjected to torments for thirty days, being scourged, racked, dragged upon the ground through dung heaps, stoned, spit upon. They were questioned again, but their costancy roused the Governor to greater fury. After subjecting them to torments more bitter still, he had them beheaded.

Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Rememberance of the Founding of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, Hagia Sophia in Constantinople
December 23


Naoum the Illuminator of The Bulgarians
December 23




Paul, Archbishop of Neo-Caesarea
December 23


Nicholas & John the New Martyrs
December 23




Forefeast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
December 23