Beheading of John the Baptist.

(Mat. 141-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9).

The Evangelists describe this event in association with the tetrarch Herod-Antipas’s acquired idea that Jesus Christ was the resurrected John the Baptist. Although Saint Luke does not relay the full narration, he does explain in brief that this thought did not originate with Herod, but that he became inclined toward it later, after having conversations with people surrounding him.

While Jews were not accustomed to celebrating birthdays, Herod once on his birthday, in emulating eastern kings, held a huge feast for lords, military commanders and Galilean elders. According to eastern custom, women were not permitted to be present at these feasts, except for slaves that danced before the men. Once, Salome — worthy daughter of the depraved Herodias, who cohabited illegally with Herod — ignoring this custom, appeared at the feast as a dancer in a skimpy costume. Having inflamed Herod with her sensuous dance to such an extent, that he promised on oath to fulfill any wish she desired. Excusing herself to consult with her mother (not present at the feast), who unhesitatingly stated that the best present she could give her was the death of the hated John the Baptist — accuser of her culpable association with Herod. She demanded : “The head of John the Baptist.” However, on the one hand Herod was afraid of the people and on the other, he respected the Baptist as “a just and holy man,” and even “when he heard him…did many things” (Mark 6:20); consequently, fearing that the promise will not be fulfilled, Herodias impressed upon her daughter to demand an immediate execution. “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter” (Mat. 14:8), — Salome demanded from Herod. “The king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it be given to her” (Mark 6:26, Mat. 14:9). While Herod did not want to execute John, his pride and false shame did not allow him to violate his oath, so he sent his executioner to sever the Prophet’s head and bring it to the feast on a silver platter. It must be assumed that the feast did not take place at Tiberias (Herod’s usual place of residence) but in his, beyond the river Jordan, residence in Julias, which was not far from the fortress at Machaerus where John was confined; or perhaps it was held at the fortress itself.

Tradition states that Herodias made fun of the Baptist’s head for a lengthy period: piercing his tongue with a needle for accusing her of wantonness and ordering his body to be thrown into an abyss that surrounded Machaerus. John’s disciples recovered his beheaded body, placed it in a coffin and entombed it in a cave. According to tradition, this cave — situated near the township of Sebaste and built on the site of the former Samaria — contained the remains of Prophets Obadiah and Elisha. This sad event of John the Baptist’s beheading is celebrated each year by our Church on the 29^th Aug., which decrees this as a day of strict fasting. Herod received a deserving punishment: he incurred total defeat at war, and while traveling to Rome, he was stripped of all his privileges and estates, and together with Herodias was imprisoned at Gaul — where he died. Whereas Salome, in traveling on a frozen lake, fell through the cracked ice and was decapitated.

Having buried their teacher, John’s disciples related to the Lord Jesus Christ what had happened, apparently seeking solace, and at the same time wanting to warn Him of possible dangers, inasmuch as He was preaching in an area that was under Herod’s control. Evangelist Mark relates that at this time, the Apostles gathered at the Lord’s side, recounting to Him all that transpired — what they were able to achieve and instruct.

Having learned of the Baptist’s violent death, the Lord withdrew into the wilderness. Evidently, at that time, He was located somewhere close to the Gennesaret lake (also known as Sea of Tiberias), because He “departed from there by boat” (Mat. 14:13). This wilderness i.e. sparsely populated area (according to Saint Luke), was situated close to the township of Bethsaida. Saint Luke also adds that Herod, under the influence of rumors and comments, thought that Jesus Christ was John the Baptist — resurrected from the dead — and “sought to see Him” (Luke 9:9).