Fourteen Thousand Holy Innocents of Bethlehem

Life

Since the wise men from the East did not return from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to inform Herod of the newborn King, but by the angel's command went by another way to their homeland, Herod raged like a wild beast and commanded that all children from two years and under two years be slain in Bethlehem and in all the region around Bethlehem. That terrible command of the emperor was carried out literally. His soldiers beheaded some children with swords, smashed others against stones, crushed others with their feet, strangled others with their hands. And there arose a wailing and lamentation of mothers to heaven: A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not, as it was prophesied (Jer. 31:15; Matt. 2:18). This crime against many innocent children was committed one year after Christ's birth, on December 29. At that time Herod was searching, lest he find the divine Child. Herod sought from Zacharias his son John, naturally to kill him, since Herod thought that John was that new King. And since Zacharias would not give up John, by Herod's command Zacharias himself was killed in the temple. Saint Simeon the God-receiver would also have been killed, had he not soon after the Meeting presented himself to God. Having slain the children of Bethlehem, Herod then attacked the Jewish elders who had interpreted to him where the Messiah was to be born. Thus Herod killed Hyrcanus the high priest and seventy elders from the Sanhedrin. Thus evilly died those who agreed with Herod that the new King the Child should be killed. Then Herod killed his brother and sister and wife and three of his sons. Finally God's punishment overtook him too: Herod began to tremble all over, his legs swelled, the lower part of his body became gangrenous, and worms flowed from the pus, his nose closed, and an unbearable stench spread from him. Before his very last breath Herod thought that they would rejoice at his death, so Herod commanded that they all be killed. Thus this terrible ruler vomited out his inhuman soul and gave it to the devil in eternal possession.

From the Hymn of Praise

A voice in Ramah was heard and much lamentationAnd the crying to God of despairing mothers.The slain infants in blood layAnd over them the mothers grieved sorrowfully.