Commemoration of the Beheading of Saint John
the Baptist on August 29
“I solemnly assure you, history has not know a man born of woman
greater than John the Baptizer” -Matthew 11:11
After baptizing Our Lord in the Jordan, John was arrested by Herod the
tetrarch. Because Herod was wicked and strove to please people more then
God, he was deceived into beheading John by his sister-in- law, Herodias
(please read Mk 6:14-29). This day is always a strict fast day, even
though we celebrate a Divine Liturgy, because the day contains both
sadness, for it was the tragic end to a righteous man’s earthly life,
and joy, for it was his victorious entrance into the eternal bliss of
God’s Heavenly Kingdom. In some Eastern Christian traditions pious
people will not eat food from a flat plate, use a knife, or eat food
that is round in shape on this day. It is also a strict fast day to
remember the ascetic example set forth by St. John. It was the purity,
chastity of heart and freedom from his passions that came about through
his ascetic cooperation with God that allowed him to remain filled with
the Holy Spirit and a worthy vessel of God’s grace.
Holy Tradition teaches us that St. John preceded the Lord into Hades to
proclaim the Good News to the captives. Like the morning star preceding
the sun, he illumined those sitting in the darkness and shadow of death
from where he was soon lead forth by the Lord with all the righteous
from the beginning of the age. In this way, he became the forerunner of
Christ to both the living and the dead amongst all those whose time came
before the birth of the Church. Holy Tradition also teaches us that St.
John holds a position of honor among the Saints second to that of the
Theotokos alone. He brings the prayers and concerns of the faithful
before the Lord with the same powerful zeal and boldness he exemplified
in his earthly life. In this way, he is a saving refuge to all that
hasten to him in prayer. St. John is a mighty intercessor and deliverer
of those who suffer from the spirits of malice. He is a patron to those
who are barren, and an aid to those suffering from the disturbance of
passions. At the hour of death, John the Baptist is a protector of souls
from the evil demons who stand ready to accuse. In short, he is a
defense of the helpless, the poor, widows and orphans.
The reliquary containing the right hand of St. John the Baptist. The
right hand of the Prophet and Baptist John was for nine centuries in
Antioch, where, according to tradition, it had been brought by the holy
Apostle and Evangelist Luke. It was also in Jerusalem, on the island of
Rhodes, in Malta, and in Austria. In 1799 AD, it was taken to the
capital of the Russian Empire, Saint Petersburg, where it was enshrined
with great piety for hundred years. following the revolution in 1917,
the holy hand was taken from Russia to various cities in Europe.
Afterwards the prophet’s relics were given to the king of Yugoslavia
Alexander Karadordevic.
