Evidence
The so-called apocryphal “gospels of childhood” tell about the beating of infants: “Proto-Gospel of James” and “Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew”.
This episode is described in most detail in the proto-gospel, the writing of which dates back to the second half of the 2nd century.
In addition to repeating the story of the Evangelist Matthew, the apocrypha contains details about the salvation of John the Baptist by his righteous mother Elizabeth:
“When Elizabeth heard that they were looking for John (her son), she took him and went to the mountain. And I looked for a place to hide it, but I couldn’t find it. And she cried out with a loud voice, saying: Mountain of God, let the mother and son in, and the mountain opened and let her in. And the light shone for them, and the angel of the Lord was with them, protecting them.”
Further, the apocrypha tells about the murder of Father John, the priest Zechariah, who refused to reveal the whereabouts of his son. This account explains the reasons for the murder of Zechariah, which is reported in Matthew 23:35.
The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew completely repeats the story of the canonical Gospel, without adding any details to it.
From the works of Sschmch. Irinea, bishop Lionsky († 202), and sschmch. Cyprian, bishop Carthaginian († 258), it follows that during their lifetime the Bethlehem babies were already revered as saints.
