Truncation of the head of John the Baptist: signs and customs

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Every year on September 11, the greatest celebration for the Orthodox Church takes place - the Beheading of John the Baptist. It was on this day that the painful death of John the Baptist took place. On the orders of Herod, one of the four rulers in the tetrarchy of Galilee, he was executed and beheaded.

It so happened that from ancient times on this day the memory of this servant of God is honored. John the Baptist is respected above all saints.

Truncation of the head of John the Baptist: the history of the celebration

The gospel of Matthew and Mark tells about the painful death in the year 32 from the Nativity of Christ.

Herod Antipas divided the land of Palestine into 4 plots, later than the death of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas became the leader of Galia. He was married to the daughter of the king of Aretha. After leaving his wife, Herod began to live with his brother's wife, Herodias. John always brought him to clean water, but Herod was afraid to inflict assault on the prophet and imprisoned him in prison.

The ruler arranged a great celebration in honor of his name day, where he invited a large number of honored guests. At the birthday party, the daughter of Herodias, Salome, danced in front of everyone. Herod liked the dance and swore to everyonepresent, that will fulfill any of her requests or whims. Salome asked her mother, and she ordered to cut off the head of the prophet. Herod had no choice and gave the order to do so.

Beheading John the Baptist, the head was presented to Salome. She pierced the tongue of John the Baptist with a pin, then buried her head in the ground. The wife of the manager of the house of Khuza found the head, and, hiding it in a vessel, buried it in Herod's lands, which were located on the Mount of Olives. The prophet's disciples buried the remains of the body. After these events, Christians began to celebrate this holiday.

But, as the story of the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist tells, it didn't end there, God was angry with the people who killed the prophet, so he punished them. In winter, Salome tried to cross the Sikoris River, but fell into the cold streams of water. She was not destined to get out of it, because her head was cut off by a pointed piece of ice. This head was delivered to Herod and Herodias. Aretha began to pay for the death of his daughter and, in a rage, gave orders to send Herod and Herodias to prison in Gaul, where they soon died.

Nobleman Innocent, many years later, bought the site where the remains of St. John the Baptist were buried. And on that land they built a church, but before his death, Innokenty hid his head in the same place where he dug it up.

After some time, the church founded by Innocent was abandoned.

First discovery of the head

During the reign of the ruler Constantine the Great, two Orthodoxthe monks twice dream of the image of St. John the Baptist, which indicates the area where his head is located. Having found this relic, the monks put it in a bag made of camel hair and went to their home. On the way, they meet a stranger who was carrying a bag.

The holy prophet appeared in a dream to a stranger and ordered to run away from the monks with his head in a vessel.

The stranger kept this vessel in his family for a long time, but later the priest Eustathius took possession of it. Having learned about the miracles that the head could do, he decided to use it. They soon found out about his blasphemy, the priest hid his head, hoping to take possession of it again. But the Lord did not allow this to happen. And inside the cave, which was not far from Emessa, at the location of the relic, a new monastery was erected.

Second Head Finding

Further, in the fifth century, the mentor and novice of the Lavra had a dream in which the prophet John told about the location of the burial of the head, and it was found again. The sacred head has been moved to the city of Constantinople.

The celebration of the first and second finding of the head takes place on February 24 according to the old calendar.

Further head search

The next mention of the head of John the Baptist is in the middle of the 9th century.

In Constantinople there was a coup due to the migrations of John Chrysostom and the head of St. John the Baptist was hidden in Emessa. Further, during the time of the persecution of icons, she was hidden in Komany. Butwhile reading the prayer at night, Patriarch Ignatius saw the image of John the Baptist and learned about the place where his head is kept.

Today, there is an opinion that the head is on the territory of Athos, but ministers do not spread this.

Relics of John the Baptist

Where today the head of John the Baptist is located is not known for certain, but some of his relics are located in the church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on the territory of the settlement of Vinogradovo.

The construction of the temple was due to the funds of the owner of the Vinogradovo estate - Alexander Glebov.

What is forbidden to do on a holiday?

Most people ask this question: "For what reason is it forbidden to incise round objects for the Beheading of John the Baptist?". As can be understood from what has been read earlier, all this is interconnected with the painful death of the prophet, whose head was cut off.

So, on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist, what should not be done? One of the most basic prohibitions is to pick up something sharp. On this day, it is strictly forbidden to cut or saw something. Even slicing bread is forbidden. On this day, you can break it into pieces or buy it already cut.

Even on the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist, what can not be done? It is forbidden to eat tomatoes or watermelons on this day. You can not eat and other products of a round shape that are red. Believers believe that all these products are reminiscent of tormentJohn the Baptist.

Also under a special ban is the section, slicing and cutting of cabbage. It is forbidden even to ferment and s alt it.

It is strictly forbidden on the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist to bring food on a platter.

It is impossible to hold any holidays and concerts, weddings and weddings. To hold christenings, dances, singing and any celebrations. This is considered a mortal sin, like the one that Salome committed. You can neither sing nor, moreover, dance.

Features of fasting

During the celebration of the Beheading of John the Baptist, a severe fast is established in order to express regret, regret, suffering and sadness about the painful death of the Great Prophet.

It is forbidden to consume dairy, meat and fish products throughout the day.

The history of the creation of icons of John the Baptist

Until now, there are icons of the Beheading of John the Baptist, created in the early Byzantine era. Painting from the Alexandrian Chronicle and the painting of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Cavusin, Cappadocia.

In the Middle Byzantine era, the following iconographic content was widespread: the prophet is in a bowed position, a soldier swings his sword over his neck; the background for this miniature is the desert.

The head of St. John was painted separately from the whole body. Blood poured from his neck, and the "executioner" standing next to him sheathed the murder weapon.

The icons of ancient Russia described the head,located in the vessel, the church was used as a background. On both sides stood the Incas and the ruler Constantine.

Many times icon painters from Russia portrayed the prophet on their knees, their hands were tied in front, and the soldier, who was ordered to be executed by the tsar, was just beginning to raise the gun over John the Baptist.

Prayers of the Beheading of John the Baptist

Through prayer, people begin to learn that they are not alone on this planet, that there is a God who is higher than us. He can listen to all our secrets, secrets, flaws and help in difficult times. Prayers to the saints help to know oneself, to find exactly the path that is intended for each person in life.

At this stage of time, there are several prayers to the prophet John the Baptist (Troparion of the Forerunner, Kontakion of the Forerunner and Ex altation of the Forerunner) to ask for the good of one's own family, help in defeating evil spirits and exposing evil intentions.

Orthodox rites and conspiracies held on the holiday

On the Orthodox holiday of the Beheading of John the Baptist, all believers need to go to the temple, read a prayer and ask for forgiveness for all their atrocities. Our great-grandfathers also believed that if you make a wish on this day, John the Baptist will be able to help in its fulfillment.

Usually pray for the he alth of their children, relatives and all neighbors.

Among the main church ceremonies that are held on this holiday, the following are distinguished:

1. Reading prayers. The ideal option would be to turn to the miraculous icon of John the Baptist, but if you don’t have it, then you can read a prayer in front of any icon depicting a saint. It is noted that reading prayers will help get rid of severe headaches and a number of other diseases.
2. Following a strict fast. According to some clergy, if you fast on this day, you will be able to rid yourself of a number of sins. It is forbidden to eat fatty and smoked foods, as well as any alcoholic beverages. The ideal solution would be to spend the whole day reading a prayer.
3. Be sure to go to church and light a candle there.

Folk rituals and incantations

If we consider this holiday not from the side of church ministers, but from the side of ordinary people, then on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist, signs, beliefs, rituals and conspiracies are as follows:

1. On this day, be sure to collect carrots and beets from the gardens.
2. During the time of Russia, on this day, conspiracies were carried out on horses so that they were he althier. Today, by analogy with horses, a conspiracy of cars is being performed. Before conspiring, you should sprinkle 3 pinches of s alt on the car, and then say special words: “From all kinds of troubles, from evil people, from the influence of devils. Amen.”
3. If a person dear to you has been sick for a long time, then it is possible that he has an evil eye on him. It is on this day that you can most effectively get rid of it. For thisyou will need to wash yourself three times with water drawn from a well or a source, and then read the following words: “Help me, mother nature, cleanse myself of filth and sin and the envy of others, so that my life flows in the same direction, so that various hardships do not torment my body and soul. May it be so". The plot and the entire ritual should be repeated for 3 days.
4. On this day, it is imperative to say goodbye to summer and prepare to meet winter.

Performing all these manipulations guaranteed a person a further he althy and happy life.

Christians sincerely believe that the torment of John the Baptist was not in vain, because he defended the thoughts of God, so everyone needs to be like this man who was not afraid to go even against the great king. If every believer on this day follows all the rules, then he will also contribute to upholding righteous thoughts and ideas.

If for some reason you are unable to fast or visit the temple, then just pray in front of the icon of John the Baptist - this is already a sign of respect.