1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of Silvester

Continuing our series of posts on the 12 Days of Christmas, we took yet another glance at the 1611 King James Bible's liturgical calendar where it notes December 31st as "Siluefter bith." It took us a bit to discover that the 400 yeard-old English was conveying that on December 31st, Christians commemorate Silvester.

While my generation of American Christians associates Silvester with a certain "puddy tat" in constant stalk of a yellow tweety bird, Silvester was in actuality a Christian in Rome during the 3rd Century. According to Christian tradition, Silvester died on December 31st.

There are many legends concerning Silvester. The most common legend is that Silvester baptized Constantine.

Interestingly, in Germany, the historic seat of the Reformation and Martin Luther, New Years Eve is still referred to as Silvester-Nacht (Silvester-Night) in honor of Silvester. In Austria, New Year’s Eve is called Sylvesterabend, Eve of Saint Sylvester.

An article in the January 1, 1872, edition of the New York Times notes that German churches in New York were filled with church-going Germans on New Year's Eve. In Life Among the Germans, published in 1887, Emma Louise Parry writes of Berliners; "Then the people drink chocolate and eat Berliner Pfannenkuchen. Then they go to church for the beautiful liturgical service;..."

Related Posts:
1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of the Innocents
1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of John
1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of Stephen


Source: SYLVESTER ABEND.; New-Year's Eve Among the Germans.

1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of the Innocents

Another peek at the 1611 KJV Bible's liturgical calendar for December, informs us that December 28th is the feast of the Innocents. The Innocents are the children slain by Herod as told in the Gospel of Matthew.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, in Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Matthew 2:16-17

There is some arguement among historians as to whether the event took place as described. The Jewish historian Josephus fails to mention the "massacre" in his history. Matthew records the events ocuring in and around rural Bethlehem, which was a small town. Some historians point out that only about 6-20 boys may have been victims and thus the event was not significant enough for inclusion in Josephus' history.

Other historians feel the murdered boys may have been Herod's children. Josephus records Herod's execution of two of his sons by his wife Mariamne because he believed they posed a threat. (The Jewish War (I.535–7) and Jewish Antiquities (16.121–7, 356).

Nonetheless, surviving historical documents from the 4th Century clearly indicate that early Christians did commemorate the event of Matthew 2. Prior to the 4th Century, the rememberance of the Innocents is thought to have been part of Epiphany.

Like the earlier feast days listed in the 1611 KJV Bible, the commemoration of the Innocents varies by church. Both the West Syrians (Syriac Orthodox Church, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and Maronite Church) and East Syrians (Chaldeans and Syro-Malabar Catholic Church) observe the feast of the Innocents on December 27th. Western Christians (Latin Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans) observe the feast on December 28th. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates the feast on December 29th.

In England, the feast of the Innocants was known as Childermas. A Childermas tradition was allowing the children to be in charge for one day. In monastaries and convents, the youngest monk or nun would become abbott or abbess for the day.

The Coventry Carol was written in England in the 1500's and the carol commemorates the death of the Innocents by Herod. Check your Christmas music collection. Today would be a good day to play and listen to Coventry Carol.

Related Posts:
1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of John
1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of Stephen
12 Days of Christmas Myth


Source: Traditional Festivals

1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of John

The liturgical calendar in the 1611 King James Bible marks December 27th as the feast of John. In an interesting twist, the Greek Orthodox Church commemorate Stephen on December 27 and John on December 26, just the oppposite of Western Christians. Yet, the earliest Syrian martyrology, dating from 411 AD in Edessa, records December 27 as commemorating John.

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus and caretaker of Mary, is honored with a spot on the KJV liturgical calendar not for his evangelism, but for his virginity. It seems that early Christians not only held that Mary was a perpetual virgin, but also John the Apostle. Augustine of Kent (ca. 604 AD) says, "to a virgin was the Virgin intrusted." The fragmets of Hyppolytus (ca. 980 AD) refer to John as "the virgin and the evangelist." Martin Luther Luther in a sermon of 1527 on December 27 spoke to John's virginity.

One modern author writes:

"Our Lord wishes the children to learn from St. John that they must retain an innocence and purity of life similar to that of His beloved disciple in order to enter the kingdom of heaven."

There is great disagreement among the early Christians concerning the martyrdom of John. Long story made short, John was thrown into boiling oil by Domitian and thus is a martyr. However, God protected John from harm and John resided in Ephesus for an extended time after, and thus is not a martyr. Alan Culpper in his book John, the Son of Zebedee notes that both accounts are legendary and therefore neither may be correct.

Interestingly, the Gospel of John, which is the fourth in our modern cannon of scripture, was not initially considered inspired or apostolic and it was not until about 200 AD that the Gospel of John began becoming accepted among early Christians. The earliest 2nd Century writers (Clement, Ignatius, Irenaeus, etc.) neither mention the fourth gospel nor quote from it. The acceptance of the fourth gospel started among the Gnostics, Montanists, and Orthodox Christians. If you'd like to know more about John, the entire book John, the Son of Zebedee is available online at Google Books.

Finally, in researching John, we discovered a very moving old world custom that perhaps some of you might like to adopt:

"A beautiful custom is some old countries is the drinking of 'St. John's love' on that day. Wine, blessed with a special blessing and prayers, is served in the home before the main meal: the father lifts the cup towards the mother. 'I drink you the love of Saint John'; she having answered: 'I thank you for the love of Saint John,' drinks to the eldest child and so on including guests and servants."
[True Christmas Spirit, by Edward J. Sutfin]

To our beloved CAS readership, we drink you the love of Saint John.


Related Posts:
1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of Stephen

Source: John, the Son of Zebedee

1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of Stephen

According to the online 1611 King James Bible, today is the feast of Stephen. You may have heard the feast of Stephen mentioned in the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas.

"Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen"

Thus, Good King Wenceslas (Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, 907-935 AD) looked out on December 26th. But who was Stephen and why do present day Christians remember Stephen and continue to name our children after him?

Stephen was the first Christian martyr.

In Acts 6 we read that there was a "murmuring" among Greek Christians against Hebrew Christians concerning the care of widows. The Apostles chose Stephen and several others to attend to the problem.

they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 6:5-8

Acts 6 goes to state that a dispute arose in one of the synagogues and charges were brought against Stephen:

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Acts 6:9-15

Acts 7 begins with the elders asking Stephen if the charges are true. Stephen then launches into his famous soliloquy. Stephen's soliloquy is unique due to Stephen experiencing a theophany, or vision of a deity. Just before he is to be martyred, Stephen is granted a vision of Christ:

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Acts 7:56

Acts 7 ends with the stoning of Stephen:

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:57-60

By the way, the Saul mentioned in verse 58 above,is the future missionary and epistilist Paul. Acts 8 informs us that Saul, who had not yet had his road to Damascus event, consented to the stoning of Stephen and then made such as havoc as to "scatter" the Christians abroad.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Acts 8:1-4

For those inspired by the story of Stephen and wishing to name a son after him, you may like to know that "Stephen" has Greek roots and means "crown." Also Eastern Christians (Greek Orthodox, Chaldean Catholics, etc.) commemorate Stephen on December 27th.

Related Posts:
1611 KJV Liturgical Calendar - Feast of Stephen
12 Days of Christmas Myth
Baptists Don't Celebrate Christmas

Source: Acts 7 (King James Version)