Holy Youths Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael


Holy Youths in fiery furnace.jpg

The Byzantine Church honors many Old Testament prophets and holy people that the Church in the West recognizes but does not commemorate in the sacred Liturgy, though the Roman Martyrology noted the holy youths yesterday. I actually think we ought to honor the OT figures as saints in our Liturgy, but greater minds will have to make that decision. Being faithful to the Divine Office you’ll recall that we pray the Canticle of the Three Youths (Daniel 3:57-88; 56) at Lauds at Sunday I. The pertinent section of the canticle follows:

O Israel, bless the Lord. Priests of the Lord, bless the
Lord; Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord. Spirits and souls of the just,
bless the Lord;  Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord. Hananiah, Azariah,
Mishael (Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego), bless the Lord; Praise and exalt him above all forever. Let us bless
the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost; Let us praise and exalt God above
all forever. Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven; Praiseworthy and
glorious forever.