If Procula had been the Midwife

As established by the Cesidian Church, Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem on...
Wednesday, the 9th of October, in the year 5 BC
This is the date according to the calendar you use today, that is, the Gregorian Calendar. By the way, the year would have been a Gregorian leap year.

The Julian Date for the day above would have been:

Wednesday, the 11th of October, in the year 5 BC

This was a normal year in the Julian Calendar. In Latin the date would have been:

dies Mercurii xi October 5 BC

If Pontius Pilate, however, had been recording the date of Jesus' birth, or perhaps the friendlier Procula (Procla), Pilate's wife, how would she have recorded it? Well this is the way Procula would have written the date in abbreviated form:

dies Mercurii a.d. V Id. Oct. DCCXLIX a.u.c.

In long form that would have been:

dies Mercurii ante diem V Idus October

DCCXLIX ab urbe condita

Lets translate Procula's Latin into more familiar English:

Mercury's Day (Wednesday), the Fifth Day to the Ides of October

Year 749 Since the Foundation of the City (Rome)

By the way, I also found out that if Jesus had been born in Rome, the date above would have been a festive occasion. The 11th of October in Rome was a day for special religious observance.

The festival of the Meditranalia began the festive period of the month of October. Meditrina was the goddess of healing, and wine would have been consumed in her honour, as it was considered to have medicinal properties. Jupiter also, as a wine-god, was honoured on this day. Feasting and games were in order for this and the next several days.

So the kind and sensitive Procula would have recorded this, in addition to the date:

A child was born today on the day of Meditranalia. Everyone is happy with this child, and they even call him the son of god!

But I know who this child is. He is the god Jupiter, the god of laughter, of abundance, but also the god of wisdom. Blessed are those who listen to him!


Most Rev Dr Cesidio Tallini
Bishop of Cesidian Church