The most important holiday on July 7 is the Nativity of John the Baptist: what is strictly forbidden to do, signs

On July 7, the Orthodox Church celebrates a great holiday — the Nativity of John the Baptist. It was established in honor of the birth of the Prophet and Baptist Jesus Christ, who was the first to announce the coming of the Messiah to people. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday. Izvestia tells us about the events that preceded the birth of John the Baptist, what traditions and customs are associated with this day.

John the Baptist (the Baptist): what is the saint known for

The saint was born six months before Jesus Christ in the family of the priest Zachariah and the righteous Elizabeth, who was a relative of the Virgin Mary. For the couple, the birth of a child was a miracle. They were at an advanced age and no longer hoped to become parents. According to the Gospel of Luke, the Archangel Gabriel announced the imminent appearance of Zachariah's son when he was praying in the temple.

Moreover, 700 years before the event itself, John's birth was predicted by the prophet Isaiah. He said that before the coming of the Son of God into the world, a prophet would appear in Israel who would announce Him to people and prepare their hearts for His coming. When Christ was born, King Herod of Judea ordered the killing of all the babies in Bethlehem in order to eliminate Jesus, who, according to prophecies, was to become King of the Jews.

Thousands of babies were killed at that time. By the grace of God, little John escaped death. Fearing for her son's life, Elizabeth hid with him in the desert. The father of the future prophet, Zechariah, was killed for refusing to reveal their location. For many years John lived in a wild desert. He wore coarse camel's hair clothes, fed on honey from wild bees and locusts, and tirelessly fasted and prayed to fulfill his mission to prepare people for the imminent coming of the Savior.

When the saint turned 30 years old, the Lord called him to prophetic ministry. Obeying this call, John appeared on the banks of the Jordan, where a large number of people gathered for religious ablutions. Here he delivered a sermon, calling the audience to repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and also talked about the imminent coming of the Messiah.

Some time later, Jesus himself approached him, in whom John recognized the Savior and announced this to the people, exclaiming: "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" The baptism of Christ was accompanied by miraculous phenomena. During the ceremony, the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. At the same time, a voice from heaven proclaimed, "This is my beloved Son." This event symbolizes the end of the prophetic mission of John the Baptist and the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ.

John himself began to be called the Forerunner or harbinger of Christ, and after the baptism of Jesus, the Baptist. In Christianity, he is considered the last prophet of the Old Testament and the first saint of the New Testament. The Savior himself said of him: "Of those born of women, no prophet has risen greater than John the Baptist."

The church holiday on July 7 is the Nativity of John the Baptist

Recognizing the significance and role of the prophet, the Nativity of John the Baptist is celebrated along with the Nativity of Jesus Christ and the Nativity of the Virgin. The full name of the holiday is the Nativity of the honorable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John. The tradition of its celebration originated in the 3rd century, and later acquired ecclesiastical significance.

The celebration belongs to the category of great holidays in both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. This is an enduring holiday, it is not tied to Easter and is celebrated on the same day. Orthodox Christians celebrate it on July 7, while Catholics celebrate it on June 24, Old style. On the eve, a solemn All-Night Vigil is served in churches, and on the holiday itself, the Divine Liturgy takes place.

Several other dates are dedicated to John the Baptist in the church calendar: September 11 — the Beheading of John the Baptist, March 9 (March 8 in a leap year) — the first and second finding of John the Baptist, June 7 — the Third finding of the head, and January 20 — St. John the Baptist Cathedral, which is celebrated the day after the Baptism of the Lord.

What not to do on the Nativity of John the Baptist

Since the Nativity of John the Baptist falls during the Peter's Fast (Apostolic Fast), which this year will last from June 16 to July 11, believers are not allowed to eat meat and dairy products, but fish is allowed. As on other great holidays, funeral services and weddings are not held in churches.

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Traditions and rules of one of the easiest fasts in Orthodoxy

According to custom, on a holiday it is necessary to attend a service or pray at home. John the Baptist, as a preacher of repentance, is most often approached with prayers for understanding his sins, for baptizing unbaptized people into the church, and for spiritual support during long fasts.

There are also folk beliefs associated with this day. For example, it is believed that on Midsummer Day it is forbidden to quarrel and visit cemeteries. It is forbidden to complain about life. On a holiday, it is also not recommended to pick up found items from the ground. In addition, you should not give away, sell or borrow your property, so as not to attract need.

Folk signs on July 7, on the Nativity of John the Baptist

In the national calendar, this time is one of the main holidays of summer — Ivan Kupala. In pre—Christian times, it was associated with the Day of the Summer Solstice, and later with the name of John the Baptist. Both holidays are united by the element of water. In the old days, the bathing season began on Kupala, and John the Baptist baptized people by immersing them in water.

Therefore, first of all we paid attention to the "water" signs. Rain was considered a good omen. Our ancestors tried to get under the raindrops, because to be in the rain on Midsummer Day means to meet good luck soon. In addition, the peasants knew that this promised a good grain harvest.

Dew was considered another good sign. They not only washed their faces with it to prolong their beauty and youth, but also judged the harvest of cucumbers. The heavy dew indicated that by winter it would be possible to harvest a lot of pickles. And a clear starry night promised a bountiful mushroom season.

Earlier, the Orthodox celebrated the Memorial Day of St. Barlaam of Khutyn. Izvestia told about the life and spiritual exploits of this Christian ascetic.