Beheading of John the Baptist: why it's a holiday, signs for September 11

Orthodox Christians on September 11 honor the memory of St. John the Baptist, remembering the day of his martyrdom. The holiday is called "Beheading of John the Baptist" and is one of the most significant. John occupies a special place in the history of Christianity: after the Virgin Mary, he is considered the most revered saint, and the number of celebrations in his honor exceeds the number of commemorations of other saints. About the significance of this day, its traditions and folk signs — in the material of Izvestia.

Beheading of John the Baptist: the essence of the holiday

In the Orthodox Church, John the Baptist is especially glorified: seven feasts have been established in his honor, which is more than any other saint. In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ calls him "the greatest of those born of women." The word "forerunner" means "going ahead", "herald". It was John who first pointed out to people the coming of the Savior.

According to legend, John appeared in the family of the priest Zachariah from the family of Aaron and his wife Elizabeth, who came from the family of David. The couple did not have children for a long time, and only the angel Gabriel announced to Zachariah the future birth of a son. For doubting the words of the angel, Zachariah became speechless and was able to speak only after the birth of the child. The baby was named John, which means "God is merciful."

It is believed that in infancy John was miraculously saved during the massacre of the Bethlehem infants on the orders of Herod.

The Sermon and the Baptism of the Lord

Little is known about John the Baptist's youth. In his mature years, he began to preach near the shores of Jordan, calling people to repent and bathe in water, which became the prototype of the sacrament of baptism. His life was austere: camel's hair clothes, honey and locust food, constant prayer and solitude.

The main event of his ministry was the Baptism of Jesus Christ. When the Savior came to him, John hesitated at first, but obeyed His will. At that moment, the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ.

John boldly denounced the sins of people, including Herod Antipas himself, who lived with his brother's wife. For this, the prophet was imprisoned. The verdict was carried out during the feast: the daughter of Herodias, Salome, having performed a dance, on the advice of her mother, asked the king for John's head as a gift. The prophet was executed, and his head was presented to the girl on a platter.

According to legend, the shrine did not immediately find peace. John's head was kept by Herodias until one of the maids secretly buried it. In the following centuries, the relic was found and disappeared several times. The body of the Forerunner was buried near modern Nablus, where his relics were revered already in the IV century.

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The saint's memory is revered not only in Orthodoxy, but also in Catholicism and Lutheranism. In the Catholic Church, the holiday falls on August 29. In Islam, John is revered under the name Yahya ibn Zakaria and is also recognized as a prophet.

Believers turn to John with prayers for health, liberation from addictions, the gift of children and spiritual fortitude. He is asked to strengthen marriage, peace in the family and protection from temptation.

Numerous omens are associated with this day. It was believed that prayers to the saint helped with headaches, and children born on September 11 would be hardy and hardworking. According to popular observations, cranes flying high predicted a cold winter, thunder predicted a warm autumn, and late starlings predicted a long Indian summer.

Since the execution of the prophet took place during a feast, believers strictly fast on this day: meat, fish, dairy products and alcohol are excluded. There may be honey on the table, which the saint ate. There is a ban on the use of sharp objects: knives, needles, axes and knitting needles. Bread and vegetables on this day are usually not cut, but broken.

Why is the Beheading of John the Baptist a holiday?

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh answered this question in one of his sermons.

"Today we celebrate the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist... We used to understand the word "celebrate" as joy, but it also means "to stay idle." But you can stay idle because joy will overwhelm your soul and you no longer care about ordinary things, or it may happen because your hands have dropped out of grief or horror. And this is today's holiday: what will you take up in the face of what we have heard in the gospel today?"

The antiquity of fasting on this day is confirmed by the charter of the Jerusalem monastery of St. Sava the Consecrated. It says that fasting on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist was "bequeathed by the ancient holy fathers."

The holiday becomes a time of prayer, repentance and reflection on perseverance in faith. Believers ask John for spiritual strengthening and conversion to Christianity of those who have not yet been baptized.