The celebration of the memory of a saint is usually associated with the date of his death, when, having passed into another world, he becomes especially close to God, but also to the people for whom he prays. There are only a few saints of God whose birthday the Church especially honors when they came into this world. One of them is “the end of the prophets and the beginning of the apostles,” John.
Iconography: John the Baptist, prophet and baptist Dates: XVI century. End of the 16th - 17th centuries. Icon painting school or art center: Pskov School Material: Wood, canvas, gesso, tempera. Dimensions of the icon: height 59.5 cm, width 44 cm. A shoulder-length image of John the Baptist in a mantle. Inv. No. 1466. © Pskov State United Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve
history of the holiday
Zechariah doubted the predictions of Archangel Gabriel and was therefore speechless.
The Nativity of John the Baptist is described by the Evangelist Luke. The father and mother of John the Baptist bore the names Zechariah and Elizabeth; they lived during the time of Herod, king of Judea, and Zechariah was a priest. Both were righteous and reached old age, but had no children. “Childlessness among the Jews was considered a great misfortune, even a shame,” therefore, as Luke narrates, the absence of children among the spouses entailed “reproach among people” and the prayer of the spouses for the gift of a child, which was heard.
One day Zechariah was burning incense in the temple, saw an angel and received predictions from him:
- about the birth of a son;
- about his name;
- about the joy that his birth will bring to both Zechariah and many representatives of the Israeli people;
- that the son will be great before the Lord;
- about the mission ahead of his son - “to present to the Lord a prepared people.”
Zechariah, being old, doubted what he heard and as a result, in confirmation of the correctness of the words he heard, he was deprived of the power of speech by Archangel Gabriel. At the end of the days of Zechariah’s service in the temple, his wife conceived (read about the holiday of the Conception of the Forerunner) and did not inform anyone about the pregnancy for 5 months, rejoicing at the miracle of God that saved her from infertility.
When the time came for Elizabeth to give birth to a son, neighbors and relatives were very happy and on the 8th day they gathered to her to perform the rite of circumcision, established under Abraham and required by the law of Moses. At circumcision, the newborn was given a name, usually in honor of one of his older relatives. Therefore, the mother’s desire to name him John could not but cause general bewilderment. The Evangelist emphasizes this circumstance because it is also miraculous: Elizabeth’s desire to name the baby John was the fruit of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They turned to their father for a solution. Having asked for a tablet smeared with wax, he wrote on it with a stick used for this purpose: “John will be his name,” and everyone was surprised at the extraordinary coincidence of the desire of the mother and the deaf-mute father to name their son by a name that was not in their family. And immediately, according to the Angel’s prediction, Zechariah’s lips opened, and he, in prophetic inspiration, as if already foreseeing the coming of the kingdom of the Messiah, began to glorify God, who had visited His people and created deliverance for them.
According to legend, rumors about the birth of John the Baptist reached the suspicious King Herod. Therefore, when the wise men came to Jerusalem asking where the born King of the Jews was, Herod remembered his son Zechariah and, having issued an order to kill infants, sent killers to the city of Jutta (where the righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth with John are believed to have lived). Zechariah was serving in the temple at that time, and Elizabeth disappeared with her son into the desert. Angry at the absence of the baby John, Herod sent to Zechariah in the temple to ask where he had hidden his son. Zechariah replied that he now served the Lord God of Israel and did not know where his son was. After threats to take his life, he repeated that he did not know where his son was, and fell under the swords of the murderers between the temple and the altar, as the Lord recalls in His accusatory speech to the Pharisees.
The meaning of this event
For many years, God's chosen people waited for the time when the Messiah would appear to Israel. As best they could, people prepared for this event, striving in virtues according to the Law of Moses. The Old Testament righteous man is the fulfiller of all (or almost all) of more than 600 commandments - “thou shalt not touch,” “thou shalt not taste,” “thou shalt not touch” (2 Col. 2:20). Addressing this person, ap. Paul, as if with bitter irony (and self-irony - after all, he, too, was such a righteous man!) writes:
“Behold, you are called a Jew, and you reassure yourself with the law, and you boast in God, and you know His will, and you understand the best, learning from the law, and you are confident in yourself that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in darkness, a teacher of the ignorant, a teacher of babes. having in the law an example of knowledge and truth" (Rom. 2:17-19).
But a new time is coming: from despised parents, whose “unrighteousness” seems to be attested to all people by their childlessness, the greatest of prophets is born. And six months later, the word spoken in ancient times will be fulfilled: “Behold, a virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel, which means: God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). For without God, a person, even the most zealous, will not arrange the work of his salvation, no matter how hard he tries, no matter how much he struggles. This is exactly what the Birth of the Forerunner speaks about, which occurred against all the laws of nature - it speaks to those who are ready to accept this truth, humbling themselves, rejecting their human righteousness, accepting God’s will.
Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov, in his sermon on the holiday of July 7, 2016, says: “...Each of us, disciples of Christ, must humble ourselves before our Savior, like a child before his father, a student before his teacher, like earth before heaven, like creation before the Creator. He must have extreme reverence for the Savior, walk before His face, the conviction that the Savior pierces our heart with His Divine gaze and sees the soul in full view, be ready to fall with childish trepidation at the feet of the Redeemer with the faith that He is the Lamb of God and has power on earth to forgive human sins and regenerate our souls"
Meaning
The birth of the Forerunner of the Lord was not ordinary and was accompanied by miracles.
The birth of a righteous person is always the great mercy of God towards people, for the whole world stands and is supported by the righteous, and the holy Baptist of the Lord John is one of the greatest righteous people, more than whom, according to the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself , no one “is raised against those born of women.”
And today, on the day of the Nativity of the holy Forerunner of the Lord, attention is focused on the life of this great Pleasant of God in order to understand and see what truly the greatest mercy of God is bestowed upon people in the person of the righteous.
From the Holy Gospel we learn that the very Birth of the Forerunner of the Lord was not ordinary and was accompanied by miracles. The Holy Prophet is born according to the prediction of the Archangel Gabriel from elderly parents: Zechariah and Elizabeth. The Forerunner is born, and the priest Zechariah is freed from the muteness with which he was punished for unbelief. The Forerunner is born, and Elizabeth rejoices, from whom the reproach for barrenness is removed.
The establishment of the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist on the day of Ivan Kupala made it possible to leave good growth, removing the pagan tares. And the holiday was accepted by our people, although the ancient beliefs died out for quite a long time.
On what day is this event celebrated according to the church calendar?
The time of birth of the prophet is determined by the church calendar, primarily on the basis of the Gospel. Yes, app. Luke definitely indicates that the Forerunner was born about six months earlier than the Savior (Luke 1:26). Since the day of the Nativity of the Lord is considered to be January 7 (NS), the celebration of the Baptist was established on July 7 , that is, six months in advance.
The meaning of church holidays in the liturgical circle
Particularly significant celebrations on the church calendar include:
- Easter;
- the so-called great “twelfth” holidays, numbering 12;
- great holidays not included in the twelve major ones, of which there are five.
It is among the latter that the Nativity of the Baptist belongs, along with another celebration - the Beheading of the saint. Of the seven celebrations of St. John, which are accepted by the Church, these two are therefore the most significant.
Celebration
In the Orthodox Church, the Nativity of John the Baptist is one of the great holidays.
In the Orthodox Church, the Nativity of John the Baptist is one of the great holidays (but not the twelve) and is celebrated 6 months before the Nativity of Christ, on July 7. This day always falls on Peter's Fast.
The Nativity of John the Baptist is one of those very few holidays on the Orthodox church calendar when the birth of the glorified person is celebrated. Indeed, in the names of the holidays of the Orthodox Church we find the word “Christmas” (birth) only three times: the Nativity of Christ, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Nativity of John the Baptist. This fact itself emphasizes the exceptional position of John the Baptist among the saints revered by the Orthodox Church.
The full name of the holiday in the liturgical books of the Orthodox Church is the Nativity of the honest, glorious prophet, Baptist and Baptist John . On the evening before the holiday, an all-night vigil is served. The stichera of the holiday were written by different hymnographers: John the monk, Anatoly, Andrew of Jerusalem, Cassia the nun; in the 8th century, John of Damascus wrote a canon for this holiday, the second canon was written by Andrew of Crete.
What not to do on the Nativity of John the Baptist
On July 7, there are church and popular bans.
On this day, the Orthodox Church prohibits doing hard physical work, getting angry, and swearing.
It is prohibited to give, sell, borrow something from home, or pick up coins or bills found on the road - this can lead to poverty.
Do not pour water on pregnant women, children and the elderly. It is believed that their bodies are sensitive to evil spirits, and it can harm them.
On the night of Ivan Kupala, it is not recommended to sleep so as not to fall into the power of evil spirits.
On this day you cannot offend or beat pets. If you hit a cattle, it may not give milk and not produce offspring.
Prayers
On the Nativity of John the Baptist, special prayers are read
- Troparion of the holiday, tone 4
Prophet and Forerunner of the coming of Christ, we are worthy to praise you, we are perplexed, we who honor you with love: the barrenness of your birth and your father’s voicelessness were resolved by your glorious and honest birth, and the incarnation of You The world of God is preached.
- Kontakion of the holiday, tone 3
Before the barrenness of the day, Christ gives birth to the Forerunner, and that is the fulfillment of every prophecy: Whom the prophets preached, upon Him in the Jordan laying His hand, the Word of God appeared as a prophet, a preacher, a taster ne and Forerunner.
- Greatness
We magnify you, the Forerunner of the Savior, John, and honor your glorious birth even from the barren one.
The Forerunner is not just a prophet, but the voice of the Lord, using the body of the Baptist for the purpose of annunciation. After all, holy people do not speak on their own, but carry the word of the Almighty, infinitely devoted to Him. When the image of John grows in each of us, the world becomes closer and more complete, exalting unity as absolute truth.
Features of worship
The significance of the celebration is expressed in the fact that it has one day of “after-feast,” that is, the Church performs special services to the Forerunner not one, but two days, on July 7 and 8.
According to the Jerusalem Charter, now adopted by the Russian Orthodox Church, an all-night vigil is served on the eve of the celebration.
Interesting fact
Until the 14th century. in Russia, only the evening festive service was performed, since according to the Rule prevailing in the Russian Church, emanating from the monastery of St. Theodore the Studite did not have such an order as a vigil. However, the tradition of a special service on the eve of the holiday itself is very ancient. After all, it was the Studite monastery that for a long time belonged to the head of the prophet. Therefore, according to the monastery charter, the celebration of the Baptist was carried out not even for two, but three days: in a special way the consecration of the side-altar of the Baptist at the cathedral church was remembered.
The features of the festive service of the Birth of the Baptist now include:
- the canon to the saint during the vigil, which is not preceded, as during other festive services, by the Theotokos canon;
- The Church especially emphasizes the joy of the holiday: like the services of Easter and the following days, on the Nativity of the Baptist there are no prayers for the dead.
As for the festive vestments of employees, the following vestments are usually accepted:
- white; traditionally it is believed that it symbolizes a transition, a milestone; It is no coincidence that the priest’s vestments are white during the sacraments of Baptism, Wedding, and burial; in this case, we can talk about the fact that the Nativity of the Baptist became the boundary that separated the Old and New Testaments;
- golden; this is the color of the Kingdom of Heaven, which the saint preached.
Iconography
The first icons, on the basis of which a tradition, a kind of canon, of iconographic representation of an event began to form, appeared around the 4th century.
It is believed that the oldest surviving icon reproducing what is said about the Nativity of the Baptist in the Gospel is a sculptural bas-relief depicting Zechariah writing the name of his son on a tablet, from the sarcophagus on the tomb of the Roman official Junius in the Lateran (359).
The oldest fresco of the Nativity of St. John is considered to be located in the church of St. Sofia, the city of Ohrid (now Macedonia, during Byzantine times the capital of Bulgaria, there was a patriarchate here). This icon dates back to the middle of the 11th century. It represents, apparently, the iconography of the event that has already developed over a millennium.
Nativity of John the Baptist; Russia. North; XVII century
The center of the image is right. Elizabeth on the bed. Around it are depicted:
- her relatives who came to congratulate her; they hold gifts for mother and child; sometimes on icons you can see women setting the table for celebration;
- Next to him is the prophet's father, Zechariah, with a tablet on which he writes the baby's name;
- finally, the obligatory element is the ablution of the newborn, which is usually written at the bottom.
From the 16th century appears on the icons of the Nativity, the image of St. appears. John as the Angel of the Desert, usually at the top. He appears as a mature husband, dressed in a hair shirt, with wings behind his back. The fingers of the saint’s right hand are folded in an oratorical gesture, signifying a call for attention. In his left hand the prophet holds a scroll on which his words can be read: “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord.”
Since the 16th century, when “hagiographical” icons were distributed, the image of the Nativity is sometimes depicted in their center, surrounded by stamps showing the event in more detail, as well as the life of the prophet in general. One of the few icons of this kind is an image from the 1st half of the 16th century. in the Intercession (Old Believer) Cathedral, which is located at the Rogozhskoye cemetery of the capital.
What is important to know about the holiday?
The holiday is highly revered among the Orthodox, so strict fasting is observed on the Nativity of the Prophet. It was believed that fasting would relieve many sins. People also believed that a person fasting on this day would have any wishes fulfilled.
Superstitious people say that on this day it is better not to touch a knife and not to eat round-shaped foods. According to the church calendar of meals, you can eat fish, hot food with vegetable oil.
Prayers to John the Baptist, what helps
Prayer for peace of mind
In the modern world there are quite a lot of different stressful situations, which is why people often cannot calm down. In order to find peace in your soul and come to terms with loss, you need to read a special prayer to calm the soul to John the Baptist.
Baptist of Christ, preacher of repentance, do not despise me who repents, but copulating with the heavenly ones, pray 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 will I do? We don't know. And to whom shall I resort, that my soul may be saved? Only to you, Saint John, give the same name of grace, for you are before the Lord through the Mother of God greater than all those born, for you have been honored to touch the top of the King Christ, who takes away the sins of the world, the Lamb of God.
Pray for my sinful soul, so that from now on, in the first ten hours, I will bear a good burden and accept recompense with the last. To her, the Baptist of Christ, an honest Forerunner, an extreme Prophet, the first martyr in grace, a teacher of fasters and hermits, a teacher of purity and a close friend of Christ!
I pray to you, I come running to you: do not reject me from your intercession, but raise me up, cast down by many sins. Renew my soul with repentance, as with the second baptism, since you are the ruler of both: with baptism wash away the original sin, and with repentance cleanse every bad deed. Cleanse me, defiled by sins, and force me to enter, even if nothing bad enters, into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
Prayer to John the Baptist for healing
In order for you to have good health and feel good, there is also a special prayer to John the Baptist, which asks for healing. This prayer helps to revive the strength and resources of your body, giving you faith in the possibility of recovery. John the Baptist will certainly help those who sincerely pray to get rid of serious illnesses and restore the human body.
Holy Forerunner and Baptist of Christ John! This preacher of repentance, do not despise us who repent, but pray to the Lord Christ for us, unworthy slaves, sad, weak, fallen into many sins. We fear death, but we are not sick of our sins and we do not care about the Kingdom of Heaven: but do not despise us, the Baptist of Christ, honorable Forerunner, born in pain of all, mentor of fasters and hermits, teacher of purity and neighbor of Christ.
We pray to you, we resort to you: do not reject us who ask for your intercession, renew our souls with repentance, which is the second baptism: by your intercession before the Lord, ask for the cleansing of our sins. Unworthy lips cry out to you, and a humble soul prays, a contrite heart sighs from the depths: stretch out your most pure right hand and protect us from enemies visible and invisible.
Hey, Lord Jesus Christ! Through the prayers of St. John Thy Baptist, and even more so of Thy Most Pure Mother, our Lady Theotokos, save us, Thy sinful servants who repent of our sins. For You are the God of the repentant, and in You, the Savior, we place our hope, glorifying Your Most Holy Name, with Your Originless Father, and with Your Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Prayer to John the Baptist for children
Parents always want the best for their children. Longevity and a happy life for children with fewer obstacles in their way are often common desires. In addition, quite often problems arise between fathers and children, and John the Baptist can help solve the current situation. To do this, you need to read a special prayer to the saint for children.
Honest Forerunner to the Baptist of Christ, ultimate prophet, first martyr, mentor of fasters and hermits, teacher of purity and neighbor of Christ! I pray to you, and when you come running, do not reject me from your intercession, do not forsake me, who have fallen through many sins; renew my soul with repentance, like a second baptism; Cleanse me, the sins of the defiled, and compel me to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, even if nothing bad enters. Amen.
Third discovery of the head of John the Baptist (June 7)
During religious unrest in Constantinople, the head of the Forerunner was transferred back to Emessa, and from there, already at the beginning of the 9th century, due to Saracen raids, to the Abkhaz Comana. When iconoclastic persecutions began, she was again hidden in the ground. Only after the restoration of icon veneration was the location of the shrine revealed to Patriarch Ignatius during night prayer.
The high priest informed the emperor about this, and the head was found for the third time in Komany (not far from present-day Sukhumi), in the place indicated by the patriarch (about 850). Here, in a small grotto, the miraculous image of John the Baptist, revered by believers, has been preserved. And the head itself was again transferred to Constantinople and on June 7 it was placed in the court church. Part of the relic was delivered to Athos.
In memory of the third finding of the head of the Baptist of the Lord, the Orthodox Church established a celebration on May 25 (old style, June 7 - new style).
Nevertheless, there are different versions regarding the final fate of the shrine today: the location of it or its parts is the Amiens Cathedral in France, the Church of San Silvestro in Capito in Rome, the Umayyad Mosque (ancient cathedral) in Syria, the Coptic monastery of Wadi Natrun and some other places. Perhaps the shrine was divided into several parts and is now kept in different cities.
Ivan Kupala - fortune telling
When asked whether it is possible to tell fortunes for John the Baptist on Christmas Day (“on Ivan Kupala”, as people say), Archpriest Igor FOMIN, rector of the Alexander Nevsky Church at MGIMO, answers:
“If you want to commit suicide, then fortune telling is the surest way to do it. Because fortune telling is a sin, and sin is a step towards spiritual death. The Church prohibits fortune telling at any time, be it a holiday, fasting or any other period of the church year. It is not given to us to know the future; it is enough for us to know the past and live in the present. Learn from mistakes, face life’s circumstances with an open heart, believe in the Lord and make choices worthy of a Christian in any situation.”
The incorrupt relics of the saint
The Baptist was executed by order of King Herod by cutting off his head at the request of Queen Herodias and her daughter Salome. Currently, according to most experts, the original head of John the Baptist is in a cathedral in France in the city of Amiens. Many pilgrims from different countries come to worship the shrine. The chapter is kept under glass on a special silver dish. Above the left eyebrow there is a hole, a mark from the dagger with which Herodias, in a fit of anger, pierced the already severed head.
The front part of the head is kept in France, the other half is in a mosque in Damascus.
Another important relic of Christian culture is the right hand of John the Baptist. The right hand of the holy prophet is incorruptible and is kept in a monastery in Montenegro. In accordance with biblical history, Saint John, performing the baptismal ceremony, laid his right hand on the head of Jesus Christ, which is why the relic is especially revered by Christians around the world.
How the Nativity of John the Baptist is celebrated in different countries
The Nativity of John the Baptist is one of the most popular holidays in Catholic Christianity, which is celebrated on June 24 and lasts all day, sometimes continuing into the night. Torches and bonfires are lit and fireworks are displayed. Believers with lighted candles or torches go to the nearest chapels for prayer services. In many regions of Spain, it is customary to burn old things, make a fire and jump over it. Such customs are explained by the proximity of the holiday to the Summer Solstice.
On the island of Menorca, in honor of the birth of John the Baptist, a festival is held where horse racing takes place, in which representatives of all social classes and classes take part.
In France, Saint John the Baptist is especially revered; his Nativity celebration lasts several days.
