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During His earthly ministry, the
Lord bore witness to the stature of His Baptizer. Jesus began to speak to the
crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A
reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft
raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. Why then did
you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is
he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, who
shall prepare Thy way before Thee.' Truly, I say to you, among those born of
women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least
in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he (Matt. 11:7-11).
John was the greatest of the
prophets; however, as the Resurrection had not yet occurred, no man had
ascended to the glory of the Kingdom of God. Even so great a prophet as John had not been redeemed. Like all
men, John had to die a bodily death and it is entirely appropriate that this occurred
as the result of his high moral integrity and courageous words — such as would
come from a great prophet.
The Holy Evangelist Mark tells the
story: Herod had sent and seized John, and bound hint in prison for the sake of
Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her. For John said
to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” And Herodias
had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod
feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When
he heard him he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly.
But an opportunity came when Herod
on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading
men of Galilee. For when Herodias' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod
and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish,
and I will grant it.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give
you, even half of my kingdom.” And she went out, and said to her mother, “What
shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the baptizer.” And she came in
immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me
at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
And the king was exceedingly sorry;
but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to
her. And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to
bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on
a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When
his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb
(Mark 6:17-29). Thus the Baptizer of Christ met a tragic end. In commemoration
of this event, on the Day of his Beheading, the Holy Church has
decreed a day of strict fasting.
In addition to the above Feasts, other
days are dedicated to the Saints and Holy Events. Among these are:
St. Anthony the Great, Father of
Monasticism (Jan. 17)
The Three Holy Hierarchs: Basil the
Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom (Jan. 30)
The Repose of St. Innocent,
Metropolitan of Moscow, Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas
(Mar. 31)
The Holy Greatmartyr and
Victorybearer George (Apr. 23).
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John
the Theologian (May 8)
The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril
and Methodius, Evangelizers of the Slavs (May 11)
The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles
Emperor Constantine and his mother, St.
Helena (May 21)
Our Venerable Father Sergius,
Wonderworker of Radonezh (July 5).
The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great
Prince Vladimir (July 15).
Our Venerable Father Seraphim,
Wonderworker of Sarov (July 19).
The Holy Glorious Prophet Elijah
(July 20)
The Procession of the Honorable Wood
of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord (Aug. 1)
The Glorification of Our Venerable
Father Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska and All America (Aug. 9)
The Repose of St. Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh,
Wonderworker of Zadonsk and All Russia
(Aug. 13)
The Holy New-Martyrs of Alaska: Peter the
Aleut and Priest-monk Juvenaly (Sept. 24)
The Glorification of St. Innocent,
Metropolitan of Moscow, Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas
(Oct. 6)
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker,
Archbishop of Myra in Lycia (Dec. 6)
The Repose of Our Venerable Father
Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska and All America (Dec. 13).
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