Massacre of the Innocents
Holy Innocents | |
|---|---|
| First Martyrs | |
| Born | Various, presumably close to the birth of Jesus Bethlehem, Herodian Kingdom of Judea, Roman Empire |
| Died | c. 7–2 BC Bethlehem, Herodian Kingdom of Judea, Roman Empire (martyred by King Herod the Great) |
| Cause of death | Infanticide |
| Venerated in | |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast |
|
| Attributes | |
| Patronage |
|
| Events in the |
| Life of Jesus according to the canonical gospels |
|---|
| Portals: Christianity Bible |
The Massacre (or Slaughter) of the Innocents is a story recounted in the Nativity narrative of the Gospel of Matthew (2:16–18) in which Herod the Great, king of Judea, orders the execution of all male children who are two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. Modern scholarship finds no evidence that it happened outside the passages in Matthew, though it is congruous with Herod's character.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents, also known as Childermas, is celebrated in the Western Christian Churches on 28 December, the fourth day of Christmastide. In Eastern Christianity, the feast is celebrated on various dates, depending on the denomination.