21 December
AT Calamina, the birthday of the blessed apostle Thomas, who preached the Gospel to the Parthians, the Medes, the Persians and Hyrcanians. Having finally penetrated into India, and instructed those nations in the Christian religion, he died transpierced with lances by order of the king. His remains were first taken to the city of Edessa and then to Ortona.—In Tuscany, the holy martyrs John and Festus.—In Lycia, St. Themistocles, martyr, who under the emperor Decius, offered himself in the place of St. Dioscorus, who was sought after to be killed, and being racked, dragged about and beaten with rods, obtained the crown of martyrdom.—At Nicomedia, during the persecution of Diocletian, St. Glycerius, a priest, who was subjected to many torments, and finally completed his martyrdom by being cast into the flames.—At Antioch, St. Anastasius, bishop and martyr, who was cruelly murdered by the Jews during the reign of Phocas.—At Treves, St. Severin, bishop and confessor.
And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins.
Thanks be to God.