14,000 Infants (the Holy Innocents) slain by Herod at Bethlehem
Martyrs
Herod, seeing himself mocked by the Magi, became enraged and poured out his wrath on the innocent infants, sending soldiers to slay all the infants in Bethlehem and its surroundings who were two years old and under. This occurred in the first year after the Nativity of Christ, on December 29. The infants were killed in various ways, and their mothers wept bitterly, crying out for their children. The prophet Jeremiah foretold this terrible lamentation: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and weeping and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Among the slain infants were fourteen thousand. Herod, not finding the Infant, continued to seek Him, but soon died in terrible agony, and his wicked deeds were punished. All who sought the soul of the Infant also met with death. The holy infants, slain for Christ, were received with the Angels in heaven, for such children truly have the Kingdom of Heaven.
