All Saints of North America Orthodox Church · Phoenix, Arizona

Orthodox Church on the west side of Phoenix Arizona including Sun City, Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Buckeye, Tonopah, and more

  • Home
  • About
    • Clergy & Leadership
    • ASONA Mission Statement
    • New Visitor Information
    • How to Become Orthodox
    • For Orthodox Visitors
    • List of Activities for Orthodox Christians Desiring to Transfer to ASONA
  • Faith
    • Statement of Faith
    • About Orthodox Christianity
    • Saints of North America
    • Welcome Home! Evangelicals Come Home to Orthodoxy
    • What happens to those who have never heard of Jesus?
    • To Sincere Converts to the Orthodox Faith, and those who are Seeking
  • Education
    • The Correct Understanding of Being Born Again
    • Eucharist: Sacrament or Symbol?
    • Eucharistic Bread: Leavened or Unleavened?
    • LIVE Online Catechism
    • Christian Names and Patron Saints
    • Welcome to the Orthodox Church! (Videos)
  • Catechesis
    • List of Activities to Complete Prior to Baptism
      • A List of Responsibilities of a Godparent in the Orthodox Church
    • Online Catechism Lessons
    • Audio Lectures
    • Bible Survey Lessons
    • The Mystery of Confession
    • Mystagogy
  • Directions
  • Calendar
    • ASONA Calendar
    • Paschal Greetings from Around the World
    • When Someone Dies
  • Articles
  • Contact
    • Donate Now
    • GIVING Page
    • The Book of Needs
  • Great Lent
  • AZ Icon Workshop
  • New Member Class
  • Ready Page
  • Ecclesioclasm
  • Weekly Bulletin
  • Children’s Education

A Pagan Records the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents

November 27, 2020 By Fr. John Peck [edit]

Matthew says that when Herod realized the magi were not going to return, he ordered the slaughter of all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem and the neighboring towns (Matt. 2:16-18). 

Although Mark and Luke do not mention the Slaughter of the Innocents, John alludes to it in the Apocalypse (Rev. 12:1-4), and thus becomes a witness to the verity of the Matthew’s record.  The witness of Matthew and John is also corroborated by a pagan writer named Macrobius. Macrobius wrote an encyclopedic account of Roman culture entitled the Saturnalia, in which he records the legends and lore of the holidays marking the Roman calendar.  In book two, Macrobius records some of the witty sayings of Augustus Caesar, and there reports:

“On hearing that the son of Herod, king of the Jews, had been slain when Herod ordered that all boys in Syria under the age of two be killed, Augustus said, ‘It’s better to be Herod’s pig than his son.'”

The authenticity of Macrobius’ report is not disputed.

Source

Share the post "A Pagan Records the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents"

  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Bookmark

Filed Under: General, Theology Tagged With: christmas, Herod, Holy Innocents, Nativity [post-edit]

All Saints of North America Orthodox Church

11234 W. Alabama Ave.
Youngtown, AZ 85363

(928) 910-2186

RSS Orthochristian.com

  • Schema Archimandrite Nektary (Haji-Petropoulos): “For me, Vladyka Laurus was a living example of a holy man”
  • OCA monastery appeals: Let the Lavra monks remain (+VIDEO)
  • On How We Relate to Faith and How We Try to Live It
  • Ukrainian Synod calls on people to protect Kiev Caves Lavra

RSS LifeSite News

  • DEA Proposal Would Stop Assisted Suicide Via Telehealth
  • New Abortion Clinic Sets a Goal of Killing 75 Babies Every Week
  • Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate Janet Protasiewicz Gave a Convicted Child Rapist No Jail Time

A Directory of Arizona Orthodox Churches

Recent Posts

  • Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, March 26, 2023
  • Children’s Lesson for Sunday, March 19, 2023
  • Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, March 19, 2023
  • Children’s Lessons for Sunday, March 12, 2023
  • Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, March 12, 2023

RSS Western American Diocese

  • 12th Annual Great Lenten Retreat, Sunday April 2, 2023, Holy Virgin Cathedral
  • NATIVITY EPISTLE  of His Eminence NICHOLAS Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

RSS Journey to Orthodoxy

  • On the Path of Love: From Islam to Christianity
  • Madagascar: Church Opens Huge Complex with Church, Schools, Orphanage, Old Folks’ Home
  • Australia: Orthodoxy Fastest Growing Church amidst General Christian Decline
  • Finding the Right Holy Hospital — For Me
  • To Sincere Converts to the Orthodox Faith, and those who are Seeking

RSS Good Guys Wear Black

  • Conservative Clergy vs Liberal Clergy?
  • On the Meaning and Power of a Priest’s Blessing
  • July 10-13, 2022 – Liturgical Practicum
  • History, Symbolism and Modern Use of Orarion
  • Priestly Priorities

Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, March 26, 2023

Orthodox Calendar



Copyright © 2023 All Saints of North America Orthodox Church · All Rights Reserved
Designed by Fr. John A. Peck · Log in