The early Church in Syria remembered martyrs and Christian leaders on the Friday after Easter.
The eastern Byzantine Church celebrated martyrs and saints on the octave day of Pentecost,
which later became the day for focusing on the Trinity. The Church in Rome, which had more
martyrs that days of the year to remember them, held their celebration on 13 May from 610 AD.
These three feasts connected the celebration of the martyrs and saints with Christ’s victorious
resurrection. In 835 the Easter/resurrection connection was lost when the celebration of All
Saints was moved to 1 November.


The celebration and remembrance of the faith and witness of ordinary Christians was originally
held on the Saturday between the crucifixion and the resurrection, connecting the faithful hope of
the resurrection of us all to the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Many
communities across the Christian world held local services remembering the dead of their own
regions, but after about 1000 AD, All Souls day became connected to and celebrated the day
after, All Saints day.


Giving Thanks for the lives and witness of all Christians, those who are know for the great things
they have done for God, and those whose faith, example and witness have only touched a few, is
part of our celebration of God’s Grace in the world.


"Faith is an act of will, inspired by love." - J.R.R. Tolkien