For [[Catholic Church|Catholics]] and [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] this is the historical period between the accession of [[John Hyrcanus]] to the Jewish high priesthood at the end of the First Book of [[Maccabees]] "''in the one hundred and seventy-seventh year, in the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat''" 134 B.C. (1 Maccabees 16:14), and the Birth of Jesus Christ at the beginning of the [[Matthew|Gospel According to Matthew]]. | For [[Catholic Church|Catholics]] and [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] this is the historical period between the accession of [[John Hyrcanus]] to the Jewish high priesthood at the end of the First Book of [[Maccabees]] "''in the one hundred and seventy-seventh year, in the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat''" 134 B.C. (1 Maccabees 16:14), and the Birth of Jesus Christ at the beginning of the [[Matthew|Gospel According to Matthew]]. |