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Is 25th December Jesus's actual birthday? |
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Many Christians are under the impression that what we celebrate on 25th December is the actual birth date of Jesus. Some Catholics can go into quite belligerent mode if others, like Jehovah Witnesses, have a somewhat different view. The fact is that we just don't know the actual birth date of Jesus. Patrick Duffy looks at when and why a feast began to be celebrated on this day.
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11. Pope St Damasus (304-384) proponent of the papal primacy |
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Damasus was a strong proponent of the papal primacy of Rome in sorting out controversies in the 4th century. He was also responsible for introducing Latin to replace Greek as the language of the liturgy at Rome, for building and restoring churches and for his care of the Roman catacombs. Patrick Duffy tells his story.
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6. The real Santa Claus: St Nicholas |
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There are many stories about St Nicholas: how he became the original Father Christmas. He's also patron of pawnbrokers and sea travellers. Nicholas wasn't above getting into a fight; they say he slapped Arius at the Council of Nicea for denying the divinity of Christ and wasn't to bothered that the other bishops put him in prison for that. John Murray PP tells some of his story.
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5. St Sabbas of Jerusalem (439-522) hermit and monastic founder |
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Sabas was born in Cappadocia and educated at a monastery near his home. He liked monastic life and eventually became a hermit in the Cedron valley near Jerusalem. The laura, or complex of hermits' huts around a church, which he set up became an influential foundation and still houses twenty Eastern Orthodox monks today. Patrick Duffy traces his story.
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4. St John of Damascus (675–749) monk and defender of icons |
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John worked as a controller of revenues for the caliph of Damascus before he retired to the wilderness near Jericho to be a monk. He is best known for his writings in defence of icons against the iconoclasts, but also for a work on systematic theology and also for hymns in honour of Our Lady. He had a very Catholic sacramental outlook, able to see God in everything. Patrick Duffy describes his life.
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