His birth is a manifest testimony to the power of the prayer of his elderly parents and an indication of the upcoming special mission of the future saint of God.
The life of the Prophet John the Baptist is unique and amazing, strict and virtuous.
The life story of the prophet John
The parents of John the Baptist are the righteous and God-fearing Zechariah and Elizabeth, who lived in Hebron. All their lives they begged God to give them a child, but the miracle happened only when they reached old age.
Baby John was born six months earlier than Jesus Christ. The elder priest Zacharias was notified of his upcoming birth during his service in the church.
One day, the future father saw an archangel on the right side of the altar. He delivered the cherished message that the prayer of the future parents was heard by God and that Elizabeth would soon give birth to a son, John. He will convert many people to God and become the Forerunner of the Messiah.
But in the church environment this day bears the pagan name “Ivan Kupala”.
Of course, superstitions have long been forgotten, people are having fun, lighting bonfires, weaving wreaths, singing songs, and performing round dances. But among the seemingly simple fun there is the practice of fortune-telling and conspiracies.
Important! Believers should avoid such “pastime” activities. The future is closed to us, and knowing it through fortune telling and other magical sessions is a sin and self-deception.
On the birthday of the Forerunner, one should refuse physical labor, it is necessary to say prayer and remember the great preacher, who with his call to repentance stirred the hearts of present and future Christians.
Watch a video about the prophet John the Baptist
The Prophet and Forerunner John baptized the Lord in the waters of the Jordan and with his preaching prepared the way for Him. On icons, the Baptist is often depicted standing next to Christ, like a “friend of the groom.” This is a prophet whose appearance marked the transition from the Old Testament to the New, from Law to Grace, from the Tablets of the Testament to the Good News.
From the four Gospels we know about the ascetic life, preaching, martyrdom of the Forerunner, and most importantly, about his great mission: to prepare the world for the coming of the Savior.
Life of John the Baptist
The very conception and birth of John was a miracle. He was born from barren parents who were already advanced in age. When the priest Zechariah, the father of the future prophet, was in the temple, Archangel Gabriel announced to him that his wife Elizabeth would conceive a child. Zechariah, hearing this, doubted what the Angel said and... suddenly became speechless. At the same time, the Archangel appeared with good news to his wife Elizabeth.
When the Virgin Mary found out that Elizabeth was pregnant, She went to visit her relative. Seeing Mary approaching, Elizabeth felt the baby leap in her womb. So John, not yet born, felt the approach of the Lord.
After a while, pious parents had a boy. Elizabeth announced that they would call him John (this name was revealed to her by the Archangel). All those present were very surprised, because no one from their family bore such a name. However, Zechariah took the tablet and wrote that the child's name was John. At that very moment, his ability to speak returned, and he thanked the Lord.
One of the most terrible and cruel events described in the Bible is the murder of all babies under the age of three in Bethlehem, on the orders of the cruel Herod. By the providence of God, the baby John escaped death: Elizabeth hid in a deep cave in the desert. Zechariah was killed by Herod's servants.
In the desert, surrounded by sands and wild animals, the prophet grew up, preparing from an early age for a great feat. As the Gospel narrates, John’s clothes were made of camel wool, and he ate wild honey and locusts as food. Having reached full adulthood (according to Jewish customs this is 30 years of age), John went out to preach.
In those days, a huge number of people converged on the banks of the Jordan River on a certain day to perform ritual ablutions. There John addressed the people with a speech. The essence of the sermon was this: it is important not so much to perform external washing as to cleanse yourself internally. And this cleansing can be obtained through awareness of one’s sins, through repentance and acceptance of Baptism. John's baptism, performed with water, seemed to prepare him for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ Himself came to Jordan. There He received Baptism from John. Then the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, and a voice said: “This is my beloved Son...”
After the events and miraculous signs on the Jordan, John continued his ministry, preaching the approach of the Kingdom of God, calling for repentance, denouncing the sins of people - without distinction of age, gender, or financial status. Among those he denounced was Herod Antipas himself. Having taken his brother's wife, he cohabited with her in an unholy marriage, and left his lawful wife. For his direct and fearless speeches, John was taken into custody. However, even keeping him in prison, Herod did not wish him death, because he considered him a real prophet and loved to talk with him.
One day, on the occasion of Herod's birthday, a grand feast was held. The wine flowed like a river, magnificent dishes were served. Herod's stepdaughter, the beautiful Salome, danced a seductive dance in front of the king and guests as a gift. She pleased the king so much that he, in a fit of delight, promised her any reward, even half of his kingdom. Taught by her mother, the girl asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter as a gift.
After these words, Herod became sad. But the king’s word, spoken in the presence of the guests, could not be broken. The guards were ordered to cut off John's head. Salome immediately received her reward and gave it to her mother. She, out of hatred, kept the chapter with herself for several more days, and when she had abused it enough, she threw it away. John's disciples took away the holy body of their teacher and buried him.
The head of the holy martyr was found by a woman named Joanna. She hid the shrine in a clay vessel and buried it on the Mount of Olives. After some time, she was found by a pious man who was building a temple in that place. He hid the vessel in his house, and in anticipation of his imminent death, he buried it again in the same place where he found it.
Herod suffered a fitting punishment for his crime. The father of his legitimate wife, in order to take revenge for the desecration of his daughter, attacked Herod and defeated his army to smithereens. The king himself was sent into exile by Emperor Caligula. According to legend, the insane Salome suffered a terrible retribution: while crossing a river in winter, she fell through the ice, and her head was cut off by a sharp ice floe.
Under Emperor Constantine, the holy head was miraculously found by two monks passing through those places. The Baptist himself appeared to one of them and showed where the shrine was hidden.
John the Baptist is often called Elijah, because, according to the word of the Lord, he was the prophet Elijah, who came, but was not recognized. Their iconographic representation is very similar.
John the Baptist of the Lord is revered by the Orthodox Church as a martyr, an angel (therefore he is often depicted on icons with angel wings), a prophet and friend of Christ.
Memorial Days:
March 9 (February 24, old style) - First and second finding of the head of John the Baptist
October 25 (October 12, old style) - transfer of the right hand of John the Baptist from Malta to Gatchina
Yulia Goiko
Prayer to John the Baptist
The Baptist of Christ, preacher of repentance, do not despise me who repents, but copulate with the heavenly ones, praying to the Lady for me, unworthy, sad, weak and sad, fallen into many troubles, burdened by the stormy thoughts of my mind. Because I am a den of evil deeds, with no end to sinful customs, my mind is nailed down by earthly things. What I will do, we do not know, and to whom I will resort, so that my soul may be saved, only to you, Saint John, by your namesake of grace, for you are before the Lord, according to the Theotokos, greater than all who were born: for you were deemed worthy to touch the heights of King Christ, take away the sins of the world, the Lamb of God. Pray to him for my sinful soul, so that from now on, at the first ten hour, I will bear a good burden and accept recompense with the last. To her, the Baptist of Christ, the honest Forerunner, the ultimate prophet, the first martyr in grace, the teacher of fasters and hermits, the teacher of purity and the neighbor of Christ, I pray to you, I resort to you, do not reject me from your intercession, but raise me up, having fallen into many sins, renew my soul with repentance, as with the second baptism, since you are the leader of both, you washed away sin with baptism, and preach repentance for the cleansing of everyone’s bad deeds; Cleanse me, defiled by my sins, and force me to enter, even if nothing bad enters, into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
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Temple image of John the Baptist. Mid-16th century
During the reign of Herod, king of the Jews, there lived in the city of Hebron one pious priest named Zechariah with his wife Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God and diligently fulfilled the commandments and statutes of the Lord. There was only one thing that outraged their pious and quiet life: they did not have children, which among the Jews was considered an obvious punishment from God for sins and often subjected childless spouses to human criticism. Deeply lamenting their childlessness, Zechariah and Elizabeth lived to such an age when the joyful hope of having children became impossible. But where human hope weakens, the providential will of God appears, defeating the laws of our nature.
One day, when Elder Zechariah was performing his next priestly service in the Jerusalem temple, he entered the sanctuary to burn incense and laid incense on the altar, suddenly he saw an Angel appearing to him on the right side of the altar. Zechariah was embarrassed and trembled with fear. “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,” said the Angel, “for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John; and you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord; He will not drink wine or strong drink, and will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb; and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God; and he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah... to present to the Lord a prepared people” (Luke 1:13-17).
Amazed by the vision and delighted by the words of the Angel, Zechariah was deeply shocked: his amazement and joy were so great that he could not suddenly believe what he was already accustomed to consider unrealistic. “How do I recognize this? - he asked the Angel in confusion, “for I am old, and my wife is advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). “I am Gabriel, standing before God,” the Angel answered him, “and I was sent to speak with you and bring this good news to you; and behold, you will remain silent and will not be able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will come true in due time” (Luke 1:19-20). Having said this, the Angel disappeared, and Zechariah at that very moment became dumb.
Meanwhile, the people who had gathered in the temple for prayer were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he was delaying so long in the sanctuary. But then Zechariah comes out in confusion and excitement; In vain he tried to say a prayer of blessing, and, feeling that his tongue was bound by muteness, he began to explain with signs the unusualness of his situation. The people realized that Zechariah had seen a vision in the temple.
Having stayed in the temple until the end of his service, Zechariah returned to his home; and Elizabeth, despite her barrenness and her old age, conceived. Delighted by the good deed of God, which lifted the reproach of childlessness from her, for five months she carefully hid her pregnancy from people in order to pour out her joyful gratitude in undisturbed calm before God, who had delivered her from criticism among people. However, one relative, who lived at that time in a place remote from her, learned about this in a supernatural way: it was the Blessed Virgin Mary. The same Archangel Gabriel, who announced to Zechariah about the birth of his son, preaching to the Most Holy Virgin the universal joy of the birth of Christ the Savior from Her, among other things revealed to Her that Elizabeth, Her relative, called barren, conceived a son in her old age, and she is already in her sixth month (Luke 1:36). Hearing about the joy that was being prepared for Elizabeth, the Most Holy Virgin, who had already conceived the Son of God, hastened to visit her, and John, as the future Forerunner of the Lord, expressed his joy at His coming with special, extraordinary movements in his mother’s womb. The Mother of God stayed with Elizabeth in her house for three months.
The time had finally come for Elizabeth to give birth; and she, in accordance with the Angel’s prediction, gave birth to a son. Relatives, neighbors and acquaintances, hearing about this, hurried to Zechariah’s house to congratulate him on such unexpected mercy of God. Eight days have passed since Ioannov’s birthday. According to the law of Moses, on this day the baby had to be circumcised and given a name. This day was a big family holiday, and everyone was invited to it. O most of the relatives. The relatives, who knew nothing about the fact that the name of the baby had already been indicated by the Angel even before his conception, wanted to name the newborn after his father, i.e. Zechariah, since the Jews had a custom of giving newborn children the name of their father or closest relative. “No,” the baby’s mother answered this desire, “but call him John.” Relatives told her that “there is no one in your family who is called by this name,” but Elizabeth insisted on her own. For a solution to the perplexity, they turned to the father and asked him with signs: what would he like to name his born son? Zechariah demanded that they bring him a tablet, and wrote on it: “John is his name” (Luke 1:60-63). He spoke what was written out loud, and from that time his tongue was resolved, and he began to bless God and prophesy about the imminent coming of the Messiah Christ and that John would be His Forerunner: “And you, little child,” said Zechariah, turning to his son, “You will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will come before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways” (Luke 1:76). The birth of John from barren and elderly parents, the muteness of Zechariah before birth and the miraculous return of the gift of speech when his son was circumcised and named, all this pointed to God’s special providence for John. All those present were filled with sacred fear and reverence for the revelation of the power of God and spoke about the newborn, reasoning in their hearts: “What will this baby be?”
The high hopes indicated by the circumstances of John's birth began to be justified in a short time. Even in his youth, John chose an unusual way of life: he retired to the uninhabited Judean desert and, settling in one of the wild caves, amid prayer and pious meditation, he remained there until the thirtieth year of his life. “He lived in the desert, as in heaven,” says Saint Chrysostom, “having risen above all the needs of nature, he walked an extraordinary path, spending all his time in chants and prayers, and having retired from the company of people, he constantly talked with the One God.” He wore the simplest, toughest clothes, made from fabric made from camel hair, belted with a leather belt. In food, he observed extreme abstinence: and all his food consisted only of roots and plants, not yet consumed by the poor inhabitants of Palestine and known under the name of wild honey and locusts. Hiding in the depths of the desert, leading a life free from close relationships with people, seeking only communication with God, he calmly waited for the Lord Himself to call him to the work of public service.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, when John was thirty years old, the voice of God came to him, commanding him to leave the desert, go to the Jewish people and, by preaching repentance and baptism, awaken the people to repentance of their sins: for the time had come for the coming of the Messiah. Obeying the heavenly voice, John left his desert refuge and appeared on the crowded banks of the Jordan River. It had been a long time since the Jews had heard the voices of the prophets; and therefore, when the prophet John appeared, people began to flock to him from all sides. “Repent,” John said to the assembled people, “for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Bring sincere repentance for your sins, move away from them in every possible way and, in place of sinful inclinations, nurture better and more godly dispositions; cleanse your heart from all evil passions and draw closer to God with deeds of virtue: for the time has come, predicted by the prophets and awaited by you for so long; we were dumbfounded by the time of the coming of the Messiah Christ, who will open the Kingdom of Heaven for you and the entire human race; in this Kingdom the promises of God for the salvation of people will be fulfilled; its members will be filled with the Spirit of God; this kingdom is not earthly and sensual, but spiritual and heavenly, where all the worthy will enjoy spiritual, heavenly, eternal joys.
In order to more clearly present to people their essential duties, which they had to fulfill, and those vices from which they should avoid, John gave instructions to each class separately. Thus, he preached to stingy and selfish people that they should give to the needy from their own wealth and property; John reminded the tax collectors, or tax collectors, who exacted more taxes than was required and thereby enriched themselves, of the obligation not to take from the people more than what was established by law. Warriors also came to him, whose violence became difficult for the people; John exhorted the soldiers to refrain from all violence, not to slander anyone, and to be content with a certain salary. Thus, John was able to convey the simple and great commandment “love your neighbor as yourself” clearly and understandably to everyone!
In addition to people from the simple rank, people who enjoyed popular respect came to John - the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were people who were proud of their imaginary holiness: they were strict followers of the law, they prayed loudly in the streets, they gave out alms in the squares, but their hearts were filled with vanity, envy and deceit; they dreamed that, like natural children of Abraham, they would necessarily enter the Kingdom of the Messiah. The Sadducees were non-believing people and were distinguished by free-thinking: they rejected the existence of the spiritual world and therefore did not believe in the existence of Angels, in the afterlife and the torment and bliss awaiting there. John spoke the truth powerfully to the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to him; he greeted them with a menacing speech: “Brothers of vipers! Who inspired you to flee from future wrath? Produce fruits worthy of repentance and do not think of saying within yourself, “We have Abraham as our father,” for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. Already the ax lies at the root of the trees: every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:7-9). John preached many other things to the people, teaching them.
Seeing the strict and virtuous life of John, hearing his teaching, full of strength and power, many inhabitants of the country of Judea and Jerusalem came to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. The success of his preaching was so great, there were so many people coming to him for baptism that many secretly began to think about John: is he not the Christ? “I baptize you with water,” John solemnly said, “but one mightier than me is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). With these words, John seemed to be answering the secret thoughts of the people about him and clearly testifying to himself that he was not Christ, but only His servant and Forerunner.
For about six months, John, with tireless zeal and ever-increasing glory, preached repentance and baptized the Jews who came to him. The time has finally come for the very One about whom John preached to appear. And so, when the path of the Lord was prepared by John’s preaching of repentance and his baptism, when the expectation of the imminent coming of the Messiah reached a high degree, then Jesus came out from Nazareth and, among a multitude of people, came to the Jordan to be baptized by John. There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit, who overshadowed John from his mother’s womb and guided him in his ministry, at the appearance of Jesus, illuminated his soul with a special heavenly light and aroused in his heart something that he (John) had not felt with anyone who had come to him before. for baptism. Knowing Jesus as the son of Mary, as his relative in the flesh, distinguished by his extraordinary purity and holiness of life, John now felt that He was the One about whom he had proclaimed to people; that now the Lord and his God, the Lord of heaven and earth, the true light that enlightens every person, stands before him. John stood before Jesus with trembling reverence and listened to what the Master commanded him. In amazement and fear, John heard Jesus demanding baptism from him. My baptism, John thought, serves as a sign of repentance and therefore sinfulness; How can I baptize Him who did not commit a single sin and Himself came from heaven to earth in order to free all people from sin, curse and death? My baptism serves only as a preparation for receiving Christ; how can I baptize Christ Himself - our redemption, justification and sanctification? Therefore, John humbly dared to object to Him: Do You, Lord, demand baptism from me? “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus meekly answered Him: “Leave it now; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:14-15). I, as the Redeemer of the world from sin, need to stand alongside sinners and fulfill all the requirements of the law for them. Walk yourself and sanctify for everyone the path leading to a new life. Don't hold back, don't mind; you need to fulfill everything to which you and I are called. Having heard the words of the Savior, John did not contradict Him and allowed Him to be baptized. “Christ did not need baptism,” notes St. Chrysostom - neither in this (John), nor in any other; or rather, baptism needed the power of Christ.” Jesus, entering the Jordan River, was immersed in it by the hand of John. When the Lord came out of the water and at the same time prayed, John saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And there was a voice from heaven: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Thus took place the glorious baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ by the hand of the holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John in the waters of the Jordan. Here the Divinity of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, was clearly and solemnly revealed to John and others who were with him on the Jordan. If until now John, only by special, inner illumination from the Holy Spirit, could sense in Jesus the Divine greatness of the Son of God in Jesus who came to him, now he was visibly and, so to speak, tactilely convinced of the truth of the Divine dignity of Jesus. It was revealed to John from above that on Whom (at baptism) he sees the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. He now saw this Spirit, in bodily form, like a dove descending on Jesus, and his anticipation turned into complete, perfect certainty. “I have seen and testified,” John said to the people, pointing to Jesus after His baptism, “that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).
After the baptism of the Lord, John continued to attract countless crowds of people. The testimony of Jesus as the Son of God, as the Lamb who took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, as the Messiah who came to open a new spiritual kingdom, was the main subject of his preaching. The crowds of people who constantly surrounded John and the power of his preaching created a general expectation of the imminent coming of the Messiah and His solemn appearance to the world. Despite the fact that John more than once pointed out the Messiah in Jesus, many even now thought to see the Messiah in John himself: the humble image of Christ the Savior did not conform to Jewish concepts of the greatness of the Messiah. To resolve the confusion, the elders of the Jewish people sent a solemn embassy of priests and Levites to John to ask him: who is he? To the proposed question, John firmly and calmly answered that he was not the Messiah. Since many of the Jews believed that before the coming of the Messiah Elijah would appear on earth, they asked John: “What then? are you Elijah? He said no. Prophet? He answered: no. They said to him: who are you? so that we can give an answer to those who sent us: what do you say about yourself? He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: straighten the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said.” Then the messengers asked John another question: “Why are you baptizing if you are not Christ, nor Elijah, nor a prophet?” “I baptize in water,” answered John, “but there is someone standing among you whom you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, but who stands in front of me. I am not worthy to untie the thong of His sandals” (John 1:19-27). Thus, John, as before, and now solemnly calls himself only the Forerunner of the Lord, in comparison with Whose high dignity he considers himself lower than the last servant.
The next day, John, seeing Jesus coming to him, in the hearing of all the people said about Him: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one of whom I said: A man comes after me, who stood before me, because He was before me” (John 1:29-30). John revealed the Divine dignity of Jesus Christ even more fully and clearly to his disciples. One day, John’s disciples, in the simplicity of their hearts, complained to him that Jesus, whom he had baptized and who, in the ordinary order of things, should have honored the Baptist as His teacher, was instead gathering his own followers, was Himself beginning to baptize and would soon darken the glory of their teacher. In his answer, filled with deep wisdom, John first of all notices to them that if Jesus begins to baptize (through His disciples, John 4:2), then He received authority and command from above: “A person cannot take anything upon himself, unless it be given to him from heaven.” I said before, and now I repeat to you: “I am not the Christ, but I was sent before Him.” To more clearly present to them his attitude towards Jesus, John uses a comparison in which, having likened Christ to the groom, and his followers to the bride, he calls himself the groom’s friend: “He who has the bride is the groom, and the friend of the groom, standing and listening to him, rejoices with joy, hearing the voice groom This is my joy being fulfilled,” i.e. I brought the people to the Messiah, cleared the way for the Lord; now my service is complete; therefore,” continues the meek and exalted soul of John, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” He came from above and is above all; no one can compare with Him, because He is the Son of God, to whom the Father has given all things into power. Therefore, the Baptist concludes, “he who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:27-36).
This was John's last testimony about Jesus Christ. It had a beneficial effect on the minds and hearts of his disciples. At the first opportunity, those of them who had a purer heart and a brighter understanding of the mysteries of God willingly followed Jesus; these were: Andrew - called the First-Called, John - the beloved disciple of the Lord, and Peter. Their great teacher John, meanwhile, was soon imprisoned; but from there, with his embassy to Jesus of his remaining disciples to convince them of His Divine dignity as the Messiah, John again proved how faithful he was to the goal of his great ministry. For this reason, the Savior, in His response to John, adorned him with such great praises as no other person had ever received. “Truly I tell you,” said the Lord to the people surrounding Him, “from among those born of women there has not arisen a greater one than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).
John was imprisoned by order of the Galilean ruler Herod Antipas. Having recognized John, Herod felt an involuntary respect for him, reaching the point that, on his advice, he undertook some corrections in civil affairs and talked with him with pleasure. Soon, however, Herod proved unworthy of the friendship of the great Prophet of God. Finally, he added to his various atrocities the fact that, contrary to the clear law of God, he entered into marriage with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, who was still alive, driving away his lawful wife, the daughter of Aretas, the ruler of stony Arabia. John, a strict keeper of the law, a zealot of truth and piety, could not calmly endure the spectacle of temptation allowed by Herod; he raised his voice against such lawlessness and said to Herod: “You must not have your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:18). The voice of truth of the holy man offended the ruler and aroused terrible hatred in Herodias; She decided to destroy the righteous man at all costs and, through her persistent machinations, finally succeeded in getting Herod to give the order to imprison John. Soon this evil woman found an opportunity to fully satisfy her anger and vengeance. Herod celebrated his birthday. All the nobles and elders of the Jews were convened for this holiday. Salome, the daughter of Herodias, who passed with her mother from her father to Herod, a skilled dancer, with her dancing during the feast so pleased Herod and those reclining with him that he said to her: “Ask me what you want, and I will give it to you”; and with an oath he added: “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, even up to half of my kingdom” (Mark 6:22-23). Salome, at the instigation of her mother, demanded the head of John the Baptist. The king, hearing such a request from the girl, was saddened. Conscience, not yet completely extinguished in the soul of the wicked man, told him that due to an insane request, the oath could be broken; but Herod, weak in character, for fear of appearing to be a liar before others, drowned out the voice of conscience within himself and agreed to the heinous murder of the Forerunner of Christ. Having sent his squire to prison, the king ordered him to immediately bring the head of John. He went and cut off his head in prison and brought it on a platter, gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. So John, the great among the prophets, a lamp that burned and shone, was faithful to the Lord God until death and, having valiantly finished his earthly service with a martyr’s death, received from the Lord the crown of eternal blessed life, setting an example for us, as we should try with all our might to remain faithful Lord until the last day and hour, to inherit endless life in the mansions of heaven. May the Lord and Savior vouchsafe this blessed part to all of us, to the glory of His All-Holy Name, with His Beginning Father and the All-Holy Spirit forever and ever!
All Christians in the world know the famous couple of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. The names of these two individuals are inextricably linked. Moreover, while almost every devout person knows the life story of Jesus, not everyone knows about the earthly journey of John the Baptist.
Historical information about the Baptist
Who is John the Baptist and what is his role in the Christian religion? Unfortunately, documentary evidence (except for the Gospel) and a couple of biographies about the deeds of this man have practically not survived. Despite this, John the Baptist is a real person whose existence no one even disputes. This man of great significance became the “Forerunner” of Jesus Christ. Many people don't understand what this word means. The meaning of the word “forerunner” is interpreted differently in different sources. This is a predecessor, a person who, through his activity, prepared the way for something or someone, an event or phenomenon that prepared the ground for other actions. John the Baptist was the son of the elderly high priest Zechariah, who despaired of having an heir, and his righteous wife Elizabeth. The biblical scriptures say that he was born six months before Jesus. The angel Gabriel announced his birth and service to the Lord. Isaiah and Malachi also spoke about his birth. He was called the Baptist because he performed the ritual of washing (baptizing) a person in the waters of the river. Jordan as his spiritual renewal.
The exact place where John was born is not indicated in any source. It is believed that he was born in Ein Karem, a suburb of Jerusalem. Today, on this site stands a Franciscan monastery dedicated to this Saint. Many theologians believe that John's father Zechariah was killed in the temple on the orders of King Herod after he refused to reveal the whereabouts of his newborn son. The Baptist's mother saved him from being killed during the massacre by hiding in the desert. According to legend, she, having heard about the search for John, went with him to the mountain. In a loud voice, Elizabeth ordered the mountain to hide her and her son, after which the rock opened up and let her in. At that time, they were constantly guarded by the angel of the Lord.
Information about John
All the circumstances of the birth and life of John the Baptist are described in detail in the Gospel of Luke. He spent his youth in the desert. The life of John the Baptist until the moment of his appearance to the people was ascetic. He wore clothes made from coarse camel hair and belted with a leather belt. John the Baptist ate dried locusts (insects of the locust genus) and wild honey. Having reached the age of thirty, he began to preach to the people in the Judean desert. called people to repent of their sins and follow a righteous life. His speeches were terse, but made a strong impression. One of his favorite phrases is: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is approaching!” It was thanks to John that the expression “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” appeared, since in this way he expressed his protest against Orthodox Judaism.
Introduction of the designation “Forerunner”
For the first time, John the Baptist was called the “Forerunner” by the Gnostic Heraklion, who lived in the 2nd century. This designation was later adopted by the Christian scientist Clement of Alexandria. In the Orthodox Church, both epithets “Forerunner” and “Baptist” are used equally often, while in the Catholic Church the second is used much more often. In Rus', two major holidays revered by the people have long been dedicated to John: Ivan Kupala and Ivan Golovoseka (Beheading).
The influence of John the Baptist on the people
The Baptist began preaching around 28 AD. He reproached people for their pride in their chosenness and demanded the restoration of old patriarchal ethical standards. The power of the Forerunner's sermons was so great that the population of Jerusalem and all the Jewish environs came to him to be baptized. John performed the dedication by water in the river. Jordan. At the same time, he said that when a person is washed, God forgives his sins. He called immersion and repentance preparation for the reception of the Messiah, who was soon to appear in these parts. On the banks of the Jordan, John continued to preach, gathering around him an increasing number of followers. There is information that, under the influence of the speeches of the Forerunner, even the Pharisees (a religious group that called for scrupulously observing the Law) and Sadducees (the highest clergy and aristocrats) came to be baptized, but John drove them away without baptism.
The essence of the teachings of John the Baptist
At the beginning of his preaching work, the Forerunner combined a call to repentance with immersion in the sacred waters of the Jordan. This procedure symbolized cleansing from human sins and preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
John's Sermons to Soldiers, Publicans and Other People
In addition to communicating with ordinary people, the Baptist devoted a lot of time to preaching to soldiers. He urged them not to slander, not to offend anyone, and also to be content with their salaries. The Forerunner asked the tax collectors not to demand more than what was determined by law. He encouraged all people, regardless of their position and wealth, to share both food and clothing. The followers of the Baptist created a community called the “disciples of John.” Among her peers, she was distinguished by extremely strict asceticism.
Prophecy of the Messiah
Saint John the Baptist, when asked about the messenger of God, answered the Jerusalem Pharisees: “I baptize in water, but he stands among you whom you do not know. He who follows me, but who stands in front of me.” With these words he confirms the coming of the Messiah to earth.
John the Baptist Meets Jesus
Jesus Christ, along with other Israelis, came to the banks of the Jordan to listen to John’s sermons. Almost immediately, he asked for baptism at the hand of the Forerunner in order to “fulfill all righteousness.” Despite all his severity, the Prophet John the Baptist pointed the people to Christ as the Lamb of God. The evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke wrote about one meeting between the Forerunner and Jesus. At the same time, the Apostle John writes about two moments of communication between these individuals. Thus, for the first time a stranger appeared before the Baptist, in whom the Spirit in the form of a white dove pointed him to the Lamb of God. The next day, Christ and the Forerunner met again. It was then that John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus the Messiah, which, according to theologians, became his main feat.
Baptism of Jesus
While John the Baptist was in Bethabara, Jesus came to him, wanting to be baptized. Since today the exact location of this settlement cannot be determined, the site on the river bank where the monastery of St. John is located has been considered the place of Christ’s ablution since the 16th century. It is located a kilometer from the city of Beit Avara, which is 10 km east of Jericho.
At Jesus’ baptism, “the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove, and a voice from heaven said: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased.” Thus, thanks to John, the messianic destiny of the Son of God was publicly witnessed. The baptism had a strong influence on Jesus, so it is considered by evangelists as the very first important event in the social activity of the Messiah. After meeting Christ, John baptized people in Aenon, which is located near Salem.
After his baptism, Jesus became John's successor. He even began his speeches, as the Forerunner, with a call to repentance and the announcement of the approach of the Kingdom of Heaven. Theologians believe that without Christ, John's preaching would have been ineffective. At the same time, without the Baptist as the Messiah, who prepared the ground for the preaching of Jesus, his reading would not have found such a response among the people.
The meaning of John the Baptist in Christianity
Despite all his merits, the Baptist in religious traditions is not at all equated with Christ. Although he was the eldest in age and became the first to preach repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of God, he was still placed lower than Jesus. John the Baptist is often compared to the Old Testament, who also acted as a zealot for the one Almighty Yahweh and fought against false gods.
John the Baptist's Path to Execution
Like Jesus Christ, the Forerunner had his own life path in execution. It is associated with the Baptist’s denunciation of the Palestinian tetrarch (the man who inherited part of his father’s kingdom) Herod Antipas. He abandoned universal principles of morality and many religious rules. Herod Antipas married his brother's wife Herodias, thereby violating Jewish customs. John the Baptist openly condemned this ruler. At the instigation of the evil Herodias, Herod Antipas around 30 AD. imprisoned the Forerunner, but, fearing popular anger, still spared his life.
Beheading of John the Baptist
Herodias could not forgive the offense to John the Baptist, so she waited for the right moment to carry out her insidious plan of revenge. On the day when Herod Antipas celebrated his birth and gave a magnificent feast for the elders and nobles, he wished Salome, the daughter of Herodias, to dance. She pleased the ruler and his guests so much that he told her to ask him for anything. At the request of Herodias, Salome demanded the head of the Baptist on a platter. Despite his fear of popular outrage, Herod kept his promise. On his orders, the head of John the Baptist was cut off in prison and given to Salome, who gave it to her treacherous mother. The reliability of this fact is confirmed by the "Antiquities of the Jews", written
The image of John the Baptist in world art
Saint John the Baptist attracted not only artists and sculptors, but also composers. During the Renaissance, many geniuses of the fine arts turned to the image and episodes of the life story of the Forerunner. In addition, artists depicted Salome dancing or holding a tray with the head of the Baptist. Such masters as Giotto, Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Rodin, El Greco dedicated their works to him. The world-famous painting by artist A. Ivanov “The Appearance of Christ to the People” is dedicated to the meeting of the Baptist with Jesus. In the Middle Ages, bronze and terracotta figurines of the Forerunner were very popular.
The meaning of the Forerunner in world religions
John the Baptist is revered as the last of the prophets and harbingers of the Messiah, not only in Christianity. In Islam and such religious movements as Baha'is and Mandaeans, he is worshiped under the name Yalya (Yahya). In some Arab Christian churches he is known as Yuhanna.
Burial place of the Baptist
According to legend, Herodias mocked the head of the Baptist for several days. After that, she ordered to bury her in a landfill. According to other sources, the head was buried in a clay jug on the Mount of Olives. It is believed that the headless body of the Forerunner was buried in Sebastia (Samaria) near the grave of the prophet Elisha. The Apostle Luke also wanted to take his body to Antioch, but local Christians gave him only the right hand (right hand) of the Saint. In 362 AD. The tomb of John the Baptist was destroyed by apostates. His remains were burned and his ashes scattered. Despite this, many believe that the Forerunner was rescued and transported to Alexandria. The relics of John the Baptist, represented by his right hand and head, are considered miraculous. They are highly revered shrines. The head of John the Baptist, according to some sources, is kept in the Roman church of San Silvestro in Capite, according to others - in Damascus. It is also known about such shrines in Amiens (France), Antioch (Türkiye), and Armenia. According to Orthodox tradition, the head of the Baptist was found 3 times. It is difficult to say where the real relic is actually located, but parishioners of different churches believe that their “head” is the real one.
The Hand of John is located in Montenegro. The Turks claim that it is kept in the museum of the Topkapi Sultan's Palace. There is information about the right hand in the Coptic monastery. Even the empty tomb of the Baptist is still visited by pilgrims who believe in its miraculous powers.
Holidays in honor of the Forerunner
The Orthodox Church has established the following holidays dedicated to John the Baptist:
- Conception of the Forerunner - October 6.
- John's Nativity - July 7th.
- Beheading - September 11th.
- Cathedral of the Baptist - January 20.
Prophet John the Baptist is one of the most revered and great saints. In his honor, celebrations were established on the following days: October 6 - conception, July 7 - Christmas, September 11 - beheading, January 20 - Council of John the Baptist in connection with the feast of Epiphany, March 9 - the first and second finding of his head, June 7 - the third discovery of his head, October 25 - the holiday of the transfer of his right hand from Malta to Gatchina (according to the new style).
The Prophet John the Baptist was the son of the priest Zechariah (from the family of Aaron) and the righteous Elizabeth (from the family of King David). His parents lived near Hebron (in the Highlands), south of Jerusalem.
He was a relative of the Lord Jesus Christ on his mother's side and was born six months before the Lord. As the Evangelist Luke narrates, the Archangel Gabriel, appearing to his father Zechariah in the temple, announced the birth of his son. And so the pious spouses, deprived of the consolation of having children until old age, finally have a son, whom they asked for in prayers.
By the grace of God, he escaped death among the thousands of murdered infants in and around Bethlehem. Saint John grew up in the wild desert, preparing himself for great service through a strict life of fasting and prayer. He wore rough clothes secured with a leather belt and ate wild honey and locusts (a genus of locust). He remained a desert dweller until the Lord called him at the age of thirty to preach to the Jewish people.
Obeying this calling, the prophet John appeared on the banks of the Jordan to prepare the people to receive the expected Messiah (Christ). Before the holiday of purification, people gathered in large numbers to the river for religious ablutions. Here John turned to them, preaching repentance and baptism for the remission of sins. The essence of his preaching was that before receiving external washing, people must be morally cleansed, and thus prepare themselves to receive the Gospel. Of course, John's baptism was not yet the grace-filled sacrament of Christian Baptism. Its meaning was spiritual preparation for the future Baptism of water and the Holy Spirit.
According to the expression of one church prayer, the prophet John was a bright morning star, which in its brilliance surpassed the radiance of all other stars and foreshadowed the morning of a blessed day, illuminated by the spiritual Sun of Christ (Mal. 4: 2). When the expectation of the Messiah reached its highest degree, the Savior of the world Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, came to John to the Jordan to be baptized. The baptism of Christ was accompanied by miraculous phenomena - the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and the voice of God the Father from heaven: “This is My beloved Son...”
Having received a revelation about Jesus Christ, the prophet John told the people about Him: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” Hearing this, two of John's disciples joined Jesus Christ. They were the apostles John (the Theologian) and Andrew (the First-Called, brother of Simon Peter).
With the baptism of the Savior, the prophet John completed and, as it were, sealed his prophetic ministry. He fearlessly and strictly denounced the vices of both ordinary people and the powerful of this world. For this he soon suffered.
King Herod Antipas (the son of King Herod the Great) ordered the prophet John to be imprisoned for denouncing him for abandoning his lawful wife (the daughter of the Arabian king Aretha) and for illegally cohabiting with Herodias. Herodias was previously married to Herod's brother Philip.
On his birthday, Herod held a feast, which was attended by many noble guests. Salome, the daughter of the wicked Herodias, with her immodest dancing during the feast, pleased Herod and the guests reclining with him so much that the king promised with an oath to give her everything she asked for, even up to half of his kingdom. The dancer, taught by her mother, asked to be given the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod respected John as a prophet, so he was saddened by such a request.
However, he was embarrassed to break the oath he had given and sent a guard to the prison, who cut off John’s head and gave it to the girl, and she took the head to her mother. Herodias, having outraged the cut off holy head of the prophet, threw it into a dirty place. The disciples of John the Baptist buried his body in the Samaritan city of Sebaste. For his crime, Herod received retribution in 38 after R. X.; his troops were defeated by Arethas, who opposed him for dishonoring his daughter, whom he abandoned for Herodias, and the following year the Roman emperor Caligula exiled Herod to prison.
As legend tells, Evangelist Luke, going around different cities and villages preaching Christ, took from Sebaste to Antioch a particle of the relics of the great prophet - his right hand. In 959, when the Muslims captured Antioch (under Emperor Constantine the Porphyrogenitus), the deacon transferred the hand of the Forerunner from Antioch to Chalcedon, from where it was transported to Constantinople, where it was kept until the conquest of this city by the Turks. Then the right hand of John the Baptist was kept in St. Petersburg in the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands in the Winter Palace.
Conception and Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
As the Gospel narrates (Luke 1:57-80), the righteous parents of Saint John the Baptist - the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, who lived in the ancient city of Hebron, reached old age, but did not have children, since Elizabeth was barren. One day Saint Zechariah was performing divine services in the Jerusalem Temple and saw the Archangel Gabriel standing on the right side of the altar of incense. He predicted that Zechariah would have a son who would be the herald of the Savior expected by the Old Testament Church - the Messiah. Zechariah was embarrassed and fear came over him. He doubted that it was possible to have a son in old age and asked for a sign. It was given to him, being at the same time a punishment for unbelief: Zechariah was struck dumb until the time the words of the Archangel were fulfilled.
Saint Elizabeth conceived and, fearing ridicule for her late pregnancy, hid for five months until the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, who was her distant relative, visited her to share her and her joy. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, was the first to greet the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. Together with her, the Most Holy Virgin Mary and the Son of God incarnate in Her were greeted by “playing like songs” and Saint John, who was still in the womb of his mother, the righteous Elizabeth.
The time came, and Saint Elizabeth gave birth to a son, all relatives and friends rejoiced with her. On the eighth day, according to the law of Moses, his circumcision took place. His mother named him John. Everyone was surprised, since no one in their family bore this name. When they asked Saint Zechariah about this, he asked for a tablet and wrote on it: “His name is John” - and immediately, according to the prediction of the Archangel, the bonds that bound his speech were resolved, and Saint Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, glorified God and uttered prophetic words about the One who had appeared in the world Messiah and about his son John - the Forerunner of the Lord.
After the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ and the worship of the shepherds and wise men, the wicked king Herod ordered to kill all the babies. Hearing about this, Saint Elizabeth fled with her son into the desert and hid in a cave. Saint Zechariah, as a priest, was in Jerusalem and performed his priestly ministry in the temple. Herod sent soldiers to him with orders to reveal the whereabouts of the baby John and his mother. Zechariah replied that he did not know this, and was killed right in the temple. Righteous Elizabeth and her son continued to live in the desert and died there. The youth John, guarded by an Angel, was in the desert until he went out to preach about repentance and was honored to baptize the Lord who had come into the world.
