March 9 — The First and Second Finding of the Head of John the Baptist: history and Traditions

Every year in early March, the Orthodox Church celebrates the First and Second finding of the head of John the Baptist, the prophet who baptized Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River. Read about the history of this shrine and the traditions of St. John's Day in Russia in the Izvestia article.

The First and Second finding of the head of John the Baptist in 2025 — when is celebrated

The date of the First and Second finding of the head of the prophet John depends on which year the celebration falls on: regular or leap year. In the first case, it is celebrated on March 9th, and in the second — a day earlier. 2025 is not a leap year, so the celebration will take place on Sunday, March 9th.

The first and second finding of the head of John the Baptist in 2025 — history

John the Baptist is the most revered saint after the Virgin Mary. He was born into the family of the priest Zachariah and was related to Jesus on his mother's side.

The prophet spent his youth in the desert, where he prepared himself for divine service by fasting and prayer. When John turned 30, the Lord sent him to the banks of the Jordan River to announce the coming of the Messiah to the people. Some time later, the Son of God came there to be baptized by the hands of the saint. Hence the two titles of John the Baptist, that is, the one who preceded the appearance of the Savior, and the Baptist.

Throughout his life, John denounced human vices, calling for repentance and humility. He was not afraid to openly speak out against the king of Galilee, Herod, for having illegally cohabited with his brother's wife, Herodias. This provoked the queen's anger, and she decided to take revenge on the saint.

Once, at a feast in honor of the king's birthday, the daughter of Herodias, Salome, performed a dance that pleased the ruler so much that he promised to fulfill her every wish. The girl, on the instructions of her mother, asked for John's head.

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The king ordered that the prophet be executed and that the promised reward be given to Salome. After that, the body of the Baptist was taken away and buried by his disciples, and the queen hid the head in a vessel and buried it in an unclean place in the city of Sebaste. It was important for her that the saint's remains rest separately, as Herodias feared that he would rise again. However, the wife of the royal housekeeper John found out where the relic was hidden. She dug it up and reburied it with honors on the Mount of Olives in one of Herod's estates.

300 years later, in the IV century AD, the shrine was discovered by two monks. According to legend, they put the prophet's head in a bag and went home. However, they were negligent on the way, handing over their burden to a random fellow traveler, an ordinary potter. He did not suspect what was in the bag, and calmly continued on his way. Suddenly, John the Baptist himself appeared to him and ordered him to flee from the careless monks along with what he was holding in his hands. Already at home, the craftsman realized that he had gained something incredibly important. This is how John's head was found for the first time.

Since then, the relic was passed from one believer to another, until it fell into the hands of the heretic priest Eustace, who used it to spread his false teachings. Many miracles were performed near John's relics, each of which the apostate attributed to himself, gaining more and more followers. However, the deception was revealed and the heretic fled, burying the shrine in a cave near the city of Ephesus.

For about 100 years, the relic did not manifest itself in any way. The monks who founded the monastery in the former cave of Evstafia came to the place of her burial. In the second half of the fifth century, John appeared to Abbot Merkel in a dream and pointed out where his head was resting. This is how the shrine was discovered for the second time. In 761, she was solemnly placed in a specially built temple in Ephesus.

After some time, the head of John was transported to Constantinople. However, soon a wave of iconoclastic unrest passed through the capital of the Byzantine Empire, during which not only images, but also other shrines were destroyed. The relics of the Baptist were hastily transported to the city of Moscow, from where they returned only in 850. This is how the third finding of the head of the Forerunner happened. This event is celebrated on June 7.

The First and Second finding of the head of John the Baptist in 2025 are traditions

In Orthodox churches, the celebration is celebrated with divine services. If the holiday takes place before Great Lent, a polyeleos service is performed, combining matins and Vespers, during which the faithful are anointed with oil. As part of such services, it is also customary to read excerpts from the Holy Scriptures dedicated to John the Baptist. The liturgy is served in the morning.

In Russia, the feast in honor of the finding of the head of the Baptist was called Midsummer Day. In the morning, people visited temples and lit candles at the icon of the prophet. The saint was asked for a rich harvest, health for children, getting rid of headaches and various addictions.

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There was also a belief that migratory birds returned on this day. To see a flying lark or stork was considered a good omen, promising a person great happiness. Birdhouses were built in the villages for the arrival of birds, seeds were poured there as a treat. The birds protected the fields from pests, so they tried to take care of them.

John the Baptist was revered by the people as the patron saint of fishermen. Therefore, on his holiday, men went on a "quiet hunt." Fish soup was prepared from the caught fish. Every family member had to taste it in order for the year to be successful.

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Believers are advised to visit the temple on the holiday and take time to pray. It will be useful to refresh the memory of the life of John the Baptist. It is also worth considering that the celebration falls on Sunday and the time of Great Lent, at which time hot food with butter is allowed. You can eat porridges, soups, stewed vegetables and mushrooms with the addition of oil. To determine the severity of the fast and coordinate the diet with the confessor, it is recommended to consult with a priest.

In Russia, Midsummer Day was accompanied by various superstitions. People tried not to sleep during the day, fearing fever, and went to bed as late as possible in the evening so that evil spirits would not enter the house. Before going to bed, an axe was stuck in the threshold, and bundles of onions and garlic were left near the beds. It was believed that this way you can protect yourself from harmful influences.

On Midsummer Day, they tried not to quarrel with their loved ones. According to legend, conflicts could bring poverty and other misfortunes to the house. The housewives did not cook duck dishes so as not to become the object of gossip and intrigue, and the girls did not braid their braids so as not to weave adversity into their fate.

Another ban was related to lighting bonfires. It was believed that a man who would light a fire on a holiday would attract endless scandals to his family.