# Sunday of the Holy Forefathers

Sunday of the Holy Forefathers or Sunday of the Holy Forefathers of Jesus Christ is a Christian holiday that is always celebrated on a Sunday and always on the second Sunday before Christmas in the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Eastern Catholic Churches using the Byzantine Rite. The beginning of the celebration is December 11. If December 11 is a weekday, then the holiday is postponed until the following Sunday. This can be perceived in the year 2024: December 11 is a Wednesday, therefore, the holiday will be celebrated four days later on Sunday, December 15.
The Sunday that falls between December 11 to 17 is known as the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers. The ancestors of the Old Testament. Those who lived before and under the Law, and those of the flesh, namely the Patriarch Abraham whom the Lord said unto "In thy seed shall all of the nations of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3; 22:18).

## Main Verses
### Apolytikion in the Second Tone

"You justified the Forefathers by faith, and through them betrothed yourself, aforetime, to the Church taken from out of the Gentiles. The saints boast in glory, for from their seed, there exists a noble crop, who is she who without seed has given You birth. By their intercessions, O Christ our God, save our souls."

### Kontakion in Plagal of the Second Tone

"You did not worship the graven image, O thrice-blessed ones, but armed with the immaterial Essence of God, you were glorified in a trial by fire. From the midst of unbearable flames you called on God, crying: Hasten, O compassionate One! Speedily come to our aid, for You are merciful and able to do as You will."

## Hymns

The Great Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the Old Testament, including the Patriarchs Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The feast also commemorates the Holy Prophets such as Daniel, Ezekiel, and Elijah, judges, kings, and all who lived of the flesh and under the Law.

### Hymn of the Ancestors

* The Proto-created Adam and Eve
* the Righteous Abel
* the Righteous Seth
* the Righteous Enos
* the Righteous Kenan
* the Righteous Maleleel
* the Righteous Jared
* the Righteous Enoch
* the Righteous Methuselah
* the Righteous Lamech
* the Righteous Noah
* the Righteous Shem
* the Righteous Japheth
* the Righteous Arphaxad
* the Righteous Cainan
* the Righteous Salah
* the Righteous Eber
* the Righteous Peleg
* the Righteous Reu
* the Righteous Seruch
* the Righteous Nahor
* the Righteous Terah
* Patriarch Abraham
* Patriarch Isaac
* Patriarch Jacob
* Patriarch Reuben
* Patriarch Simeon
* Patriarch Levi
* Patriarch Judah
* Patriarch Zebulon
* Patriarch Issachar
* Patriarch Dan
* Patriarch Gad
* Patriarch Asher
* Patriarch Naphtali
* Patriarch Joseph
* Patriarch Benjamin
* Patriarch Phares
* Patriarch Zerah
* Patriarch Hezron
* Patriarch Aram
* Patriarch Amminadab
* Patriarch Nahshon
* Patriarch Salmon
* Patriarch Boaz
* Patriarch Obed
* Patriarch Jesse
* King David
* King Solomon
* King Rehoboam
* King Abijah
* King Asa
* King Jehoshaphat
* King Jehoram
* King Uzziah
* King Jotham
* King Ahaz
* King Hezekiah
* King Manasseh
* King Amon
* King Josiah
* King Jeconiah
* Patriarch Shealtiel
* Patriarch Zerubbabel
* Patriarch Abiud
* Patriarch Eliakim
* Patriarch Azor
* Patriarch Zadok
* Patriarch Achim
* Patriarch Eliud
* Patriarch Eleazar
* Patriarch Matthan
* Patriarch Jacob
* Patriarch Joseph

### Other Saints of Ancestors Sunday

* the Righteous Melchizedek
* the Righteous Job
* the Prophet Moses
* the Prophet Aaron
* the Prophet Hur
* the Righteous Joshua
* the Prophet Samuel
* the Prophet Nathan
* the Prophet Daniel
* the Righteous Sarah
* the Righteous Rebeccah
* the Fair Leah
* the Righteous Rachel
* the Fair Asenath
* the Righteous Miriam
* the Fair Deborah
* the Fair Ruth
* the Fair Sarafthia to whom Elias was sent
* the Righteous Somanitis who hosted Elisha
* the Fair Judith
* the Righteous Esther
* the Righteous Hannah
* the Fair Susanna