St. John Damascene, December 4
A Christian official at the court of the caliph in Damascus, John (c. 675-749) became a monk at the monastery of Mar Saba near Jerusalem. He wrote the classic defense of holy images against the iconoclasts. He is a Doctor of the Church; St. Barbara is also remembered today.
On the General Roman Calendar, December 4 is an optional memorial: Saint John Damascene, priest and doctor.
Other saints on December 4
- St. Barbara, virgin and martyr
Name days on December 4
In countries that keep name days, December 4 is the day for people named Barbara.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Barbara | December 4 |
December 4 on the calendar
December 4 is the 338th day of the year (the 339th in a leap year), with 27 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | Wednesday |
Keeping December 4
December 4 falls during Advent. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Barbara, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around December 4
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| December 1 | St. Charles de Foucauld |
| December 2 | St. Bibiana |
| December 3 | St. Francis Xavier |
| December 5 | St. Sabbas |
| December 6 | St. Nicholas |
| December 7 | St. Ambrose |
The day before, December 3, is the day of St. Francis Xavier. The day after, December 5, belongs to St. Sabbas. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.