The Martyrdom of the Children of Bethlehem

“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

“A voice is heard in Ramah, 

weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children


and refusing to be comforted,
 

because they are no more.”

Matthew 2:16-18

On 29 December in the Maronite calendar we remember the martyrdom of the children of Bethlehem, also known as the Massacre of the Innocents.

We learn about the event from Scriptures (Matthew 2), which is the Gospel for the days liturgy. We learn that Herod requested that the Magi return to him after they had found Jesus.  After being led by a star to the Child of Wonder, an angel appeared to the Magi in a dream and told them not to return to Herod.  An angel also appeared to Joseph and told him to take his family to Egypt.