John the forerunner icon of truncation of the head. Orthodox icon beheading of the head of John the Baptist. Prayers for the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist

On May 6, the Church celebrates the memory of one of the most revered Christian saints - the Great Martyr George the Victorious. Many different, sometimes not very consistent legends are associated with his name. Historical motives, church tradition and folk legends are reflected in the iconography of the saint

Modern ideas about the work of icon painters more and more often associate the writing of icons with the works of professional masters. The apparent simplicity of some of the icons did not mean that the master could not write a beautiful highly artistic work. It was about the price. Art critic Zhanna BELIK tells about the cost of icon painting in the second half of the 19th - early 20th century and the principles of pricing in icon painting

The memory of one of the saints most beloved by our people - St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Bishop Myr of Lycia is celebrated twice in the church calendar: in the winter of December 19 and almost in the summer of May 22. Byzantine iconography has preserved many images of St. Nicholas. What did he look like? PHOTO GALLERY.

The iconography of the most revered saint after the Virgin Mary - John the Baptist - is vast and complex. The most common icons are the beheading and the acquisition of his honest head

In the Greek text of the Gospel, the apostles are called "fellow disciples." On July 12, the Church honors the memory of two of them: Peter, the most staunch of Christ's disciples, the Savior metaphorically promised to build the Church on the cornerstone of his faith, and Paul, the former persecutor of Palestinian Christians, who believed in the Son of God and converted the Greek world to Christianity.

There are many icon painters in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church, but the most famous, of course, is Andrei Rublev. This name in our country is probably known to everyone, even not the most educated person, and outside of Russia it is well known, especially after Tarkovsky's film, but what do we know about the great icon painter? The famous historian of Christian art Irina YAZYKOVA tells about this

The Pskov-Pechersky Monastery is the only one on the territory of Russia that has never been closed. Few people know that at the time of the last threat of its closure in Khrushchev's times, front-line monks were ready to defend the monastery from the atheists, like Stalingrad from the Nazis. Their determination was not shamed. A miracle happened.

- all this can be seen in the gallery of icons.

Is the sculpture a prayer image, or is it just a memorial sign, evidence of a historical event and a reminder of a historical person, says art critic Irina YAZYKOVA

"Fathers of the Local Council of 1917-1918": the icon of unification
The unique icon depicts the hierarchs who supported the Patriarchal Church, the ROCOR figures, and the figures of the "right opposition" to Metropolitan Sergius and the holy co-religionist who served according to the pre-Nikon rituals in the 20th century. Behind each image is a vivid history of martyrdom and confession, which cannot be forgotten.

For modern icon painting, the image of the great saint, glorified in the 20th century, is very important. On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the uncovering of the relics of St. Seraphim, we are publishing the works of Nun Juliana (Sokolova), Archimandrite Zinon (Theodore), Monk Gregory (Circle), Alexander Lavdansky and other famous icon painters of our time. PHOTO GALLERY

The oldest watercolor on a plot from the life of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov was painted by the St. Petersburg artist Pyotr Fedorovich Borel. He also owns lifetime portraits of three Filarets - Drozdov, Amfitheatrov and Gumilevsky, Theophan the Recluse and other Russian saints. PHOTO GALLERY

Having renounced her name, dressed in a man's dress, St. Petersburg holy fool, Blessed Xenia, did everything to renounce her “I”. Her portraits have not survived, and even her relics are under wraps. And yet she became one of the most famous and beloved Russian saints, and you will recognize her immediately on the icons.

In the iconographic originals (the original is a guide for the icon painter, a collection of samples defining all the details of the canonical images of various persons and events reproduced on the icons) John the Baptist is characterized as follows: “He is a Jew, middle-aged, very thin in body and face, body color is pale - swarthy, black beard, less than average size, divided into strands or braids, hair is black, thick, curly, also divided into strands; the clothes are heaped of coarse camel wool, like a sack, while the saint is belted with a leather belt. "

In one of the most traditional types of iconography of the saint, the prophet is depicted up to the waist (half-length image), facing the praying person. Such writing maximally attunes a person to prayer and a personal appeal to the saint depicted in the icon.

The prophet is written in a garment made of camel hide. This image is based on his description taken from the Holy Scriptures: "John wore a garment of camel hair and a leather belt on his loins ..." (Mark 1, 6).
Some types of prophet may wear a woven chiton or himation (a cape made of a piece of cloth) over camel hair.

The prophet's right hand is raised in a blessing gesture, and, according to tradition, a scroll is depicted in his left hand. The symbolic meaning of the scroll is a symbol of the entry of the holy prophet of God to preach with a call to repentance. Sometimes the scroll is shown folded, and sometimes with different versions of the text from the Holy Scriptures:

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3, 2);

“I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: correct the way of the Lord” (John 1:23);

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is, about whom I said: a man is following me, who has stood before me, because He was before me ”(John 1, 29, 30).

We add that there are a lot of iconographic types of the image of the holy prophet John the Baptist in Orthodoxy. Almost all of them in their meaning are tied to episodes from the life of the prophet, as well as to the holidays established by the Church in his honor.

On the left shoulder of the prophet lies a long cross-staff - this is a symbol of the wilderness of John the Baptist and his testimony of Christ. In particular, this is an indication of the future sufferings of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Types of iconography of St. John the Baptist

The iconography of St. John the Baptist is one of the most diverse among all possible images of the saints of the Christian Church. The overwhelming majority of these images are based on the main episodes from the life of the prophet, and very few have extraordinary plots. Let's talk about some types of iconography of St. John the Baptist in more detail.

The conception of Saint John the Baptist is one of the rarest iconographic types of images associated with the life of John the Baptist (the prophet himself is not depicted in this icon). According to the prophet's righteous parents depicted on the icon, it is also called "The Kissing of Zechariah and Elizabeth". Righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth are depicted in this icon in each other's arms - this is an expression of love, devotion, support for their other half. This type of iconography is similar to another type of icons depicting the righteous Joachim and Anna - the parents of the Mother of God and called "The kissing of Joachim and Anna."

The Nativity of John the Baptist - this iconographic type is based on the text of the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1, 1), which describes this event. In its style, the icon is similar to the image of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The central figures depicted on the icon are the righteous Elizabeth, lying on her bed, and the righteous Zechariah, who sits next to him and writes the name "John" on the tablet. There are additional plots on the icon: the shelter of the righteous Elizabeth in a cave from the persecution of Herod, the murder of the righteous Zechariah for refusing to say where the baby John is, etc.

Saint John the Baptist in the Desert is a fairly common type of depiction of a saint in Orthodox iconography. The Prophet is portrayed as a man of mature age who is preparing to soon go out to preach repentance. Saint John the Baptist is depicted in his ascetic attire, in the pose of a praying person. Often before the prophet his honest head is depicted lying on a platter - this is a symbolic indication of the future martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.

Baptism of the Lord - this type of iconography refers directly to the life of the Lord Jesus Christ and is very common in the Orthodox tradition. However, since the Lord was baptized by the holy prophet John the Forerunner, he is also present on these icons.
Saint John the Baptist is depicted standing on one of the banks of the Jordan River. His body is bowed to the Lord Jesus Christ, and his hands are raised. The central figure of the icon is, of course, the Lord Himself, however, in addition to Him and the holy prophet, the icon also depicts angels (as witnesses of Baptism and recipients of the Lord), as well as images of the Holy Trinity - God the Father as the edge of heaven, from where the voice was heard: "You are My Beloved Son, in You I am well pleased!" (Luke 3:22) and God the Holy Spirit, Who descended on the Lord Jesus Christ in the form of a dove. This type of iconography is very multifaceted and has many hidden meanings.

The beheading of John the Baptist is another widespread type of iconography of the holy prophet of God. We can say that the icons of this type show several plots connected together. The central part of the icon is the image of the warrior of King Herod Antipas, who brandishes his sword at the bowed figure of the Prophet John. Here, as a rule, the honest head of the prophet is also depicted - after the execution, placed on a dish. On some (but not all) varieties of icons of this type, next to the main plots, another one is placed - the warrior brings the severed head of the prophet to the maiden Salome on a platter. All these stories are based on the text of the Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6, 21-28), which tells about the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.

The honest head of St. John the Baptist - on this type of icons, the honest head of the prophet is depicted large enough - lying on a platter; often over it are placed the inclined figures of angels and the image (at the top of the icon, in the center) of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The honest head is encircled by a halo - as a symbol of the fact that the prophet of God by his ministry and martyrdom acquired the Kingdom of God and the Lord's grace. This iconographic type is also quite common in the Orthodox tradition.

The discovery of the head of St. John the Baptist is another multi-faceted type of prophet iconography. On the icons of this type, the central image is again the honest head of St. John the Baptist, which is surrounded by those who, according to the tradition of the Church, acquired it by the will of God - the righteous John and the righteous Innocent. There are even more complex iconographic compositions, when all three miraculous cases of obtaining the honest head of the prophet are depicted in separate subjects on one icon.

Descent of the prophet John the Baptist into hell (sermon) - on this type of prophet of God he is depicted preaching the coming of the Savior to the prisoners of hell, both the righteous and the sinners. In the left hand of the holy prophet is depicted an unfolded scroll with the prophecy of the Messiah. Most of the righteous who listen to the word of John in Hell are also depicted with unrolled scrolls, where other prophecies about the coming of the Savior are visible. All of them expect that soon, after John the Forerunner, the Lord Himself will come and lead them out of Hell into the Kingdom of His Father in Heaven.

Beheading of John the Baptist - a holiday that the Orthodox Church honors and celebrates on September 11 (August 29, old style).

The Holy Church honors John the Forerunner above all the saints after the Mother of God.

The beheading of John the Baptist: how it was

The Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 14: 1-12) and Mark (Mark 6: 14-29) narrate the martyrdom of the Forerunner of the Lord in the year 32 after the Nativity of Christ. However, the Holy Tradition of the Apostolic Church preserved some of the details of these events that took place shortly before the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ.

After the death of Herod the Great, the Romans divided the territory of Palestine into four parts, and in each part appointed their protege as ruler. Herod Antipas received Galilee from Emperor Augustus. He had a legal wife, the daughter of the Arabian king Arefa. Herod left her and cohabited with Herodias, his brother's wife. The Prophet John repeatedly denounced him, but the king did not dare to harm him, as he revered John the Baptist as a prophet and was afraid of the people's anger. Nevertheless, Saint John the Baptist was thrown into prison by King Herod (Luke 3, 19-20).

On his birthday, Herod made a rich feast, at which Salome, the daughter of Herodias, danced in front of the guests. She so pleased Herod with this that he swore in front of the guests to give her whatever she asked. Salome went to her mother for advice. Herodias taught her daughter to ask for the head of St. John the Baptist. Herod was saddened: he was afraid of the wrath of God for the murder of the prophet, but he could not break an imprudent oath.

John the Baptist's head was cut off and given to Salome. According to legend, the head continued to denounce Herod and Herodias. Furious Herodias pierced the tongue of the prophet with a pin and buried her head in an unclean place. But Joanna, the wife of the king's housekeeper Khuza, secretly took the holy head, put it in a vessel and buried it on the Mount of Olives, in one of Herod's estates. The body of St. John the Baptist was taken by his disciples and buried.

God's wrath fell upon those who decided to destroy the prophet. Salome crossed the Sikoris River in winter and fell through the ice. She hung her body in the water, and her head was above the ice. Just as she once danced with her feet on the ground, now, like a dancer, she made helpless movements in the icy water. So she hung until sharp ice cut her neck. Her head, cut off by a sharp ice floe, was brought to Herod and Herodias, as they once brought them the head of John the Baptist, but her body was never found. The Arabian king Aref, in revenge for the dishonor of his daughter - the wife of Herod the four-ruler - moved his troops against the wicked king and defeated him. The Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Caligula (37-41) in anger exiled Herod along with Herodias to captivity in Gaul, and then to Spain. There they were swallowed up by the open earth.

The first finding of the head of John the Baptist

Many years after the execution of John the Baptist, when the land in which the vessel with the holy head of the Forerunner rested, passed into the ownership of the pious nobleman Innocent, this vessel was found during the construction of the church, Innocent learned about the greatness of the shrine by the miracles and signs that happened during this time. But before his death, fearing that the shrine would not be desecrated by the Gentiles, he again hid it in the same place.

Many years passed, the church built by Innocent fell into disrepair. During the reign of the emperor Constantine the Great, two monks who came to worship in Jerusalem twice appeared Saint John the Baptist and indicated the location of his venerable head. Having dug up the shrine, the monks put it in a sack of camel wool and went home, but on the way they met an unfamiliar potter, whom they entrusted to carry the precious burden. Then the Forerunner himself appeared to the potter and ordered him to flee from the careless monks along with the burden. In the potter's family, the honest head was kept and passed on from generation to generation in a sealed vessel, until the priest Eustathius, infected with the heresy of Arianism, took possession of it. Using the miraculous power emanating from the head, he seduced many people into heresy. When his blasphemy was revealed, he fled, burying the shrine in a cave near Emesa, hoping to later take it back. But God did not allow this. Pious monks settled in the cave, and a monastery arose.

In 452 St. John pointed out in a vision to the archimandrite of the monastery Marcellus the place of hiding his head, and it was regained. The shrine was transferred to Emessa, and then to Constantinople. The feast of the first and second miraculous finding of the head of John the Baptist is celebrated by the Church on March 8 (February 24, old style).

The third finding of the honest head of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John was about 850. When unrest arose in Constantinople connected with the exile of St. John Chrysostom, the head of St. John the Baptist was carried off to Emesa, and from there, during the Saracens' raid (circa 810-820), to Comana, where it was hidden later, during the iconoclastic times. persecution. After the restoration of the veneration of icons to Patriarch Ignatius (847-857) at night during prayer, the place where the honest chapter was kept was indicated. The shrine was again found in the place indicated by the patriarch, around 850. Later, the chapter was again transferred to Constantinople and here on May 25 was placed in the court church, part of the holy chapter is on Athos. Feast of the third discovery of the head of St. John the Baptist - June 7 (May 25, old style).

In memory of the beheading of St. John the Baptist, the Church established a holiday and strict fasting as an expression of the grief of Christians over the violent death of the great Prophet.

Icons of the Beheading of John the Baptist

Pictures with the plot of the Beheading of John the Baptist

John the Baptist before Herod. Mattia Preti. 1665

Gustav Moreau. Salome

Jacopo da Ponte. Beheading of John the Baptist

Giovanni Batista Tiepolo. Beheading of John the Baptist

Pierre Cecile Puvis de Chavannes. The beheading of John the Baptist. 1869

Revenge of Herodias. Painting by Juan Flandes

Beheading of John the Baptist. Caravaggio. 1608

Salome. Lucas Cranach the Elder. OK. 1530

Guido Reni. Salome with the head of John the Baptist

Prayers for the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist

Chants of the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist performed by the choir of the church of St. Nicholas in Kuznetskaya Sloboda (Moscow)

Verse: From the depths I cried to You, Lord, * Lord, hear my voice.

Verse: Let Thy ears * be listening to the voice of my prayer.

I create a cold Herod, a filthy dancer, the oath is being fulfilled:
Forerunner bo head, cut off, like food, worn on a platter reclining.
Oh, the feast is disgusting, unrepeatable deeds and murders are complete!
But we are the Baptist, as if born by wives is great, worthy of reverence, we please.

Verse: If the lawlessness is nazrishi, Lord, Lord, who will stand * as you have cleansing.

Oh, a feast full of blood!

If you did swear, but you didn’t swear for good: I’d better get a lie to get my life, but if I had truthful to the head of the Forerunner, cut it off.
But we are the Baptist, as if born by wives is great, worthy of reverence, we please.

Verse: And for the sake of Thy patience, O Lord, my soul suffer for Thy word * my soul trusts in the Lord.

The dance is a disciple of the all-evil devil, and your head, the Forerunner, is taken from you.
Oh, a feast full of blood!
Better not to swear, Irode is lawless, a lie inside.
If you did swear, but you didn’t swear for good: I’d rather lie to receive life,
cut off the head of the Forerunner. But we are the Baptist, as if born by wives is great, worthy of reverence, we please.

Verse: From the guard of the morning to the night, from the guard of the morning * let Israel trust in the Lord.

But we are the Baptist, as if born by wives is great, worthy of reverence, we please.

Verse: as the Lord has mercy and much deliverance from Him * and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.

It is not befitting, O Herod, to condemn the adultery of an accuser, for the sake of satanic work and incitement to violent fornication by death.
Do not befit the honorable head of a most lawless wife for the sake of an oath of dancing to betray the poor.
Oh, how dare you commit such a murder!
Why did the nasty dancer not scorch, in the middle of a feast, wearing this on a platter?
But we are the Baptist, as if born by wives is great, worthy of reverence, we please.

Verse: Praise the Lord, all nations * praise Him, all people.

The Baptist is truncated and Herod is confused.
Prayers, Lord, Thy Forerunner, give peace to our souls.

Verse: As if his mercy was established on us * and the truth of the Lord abides forever.

Paki Herodia is mad, paki is embarrassed.
Oh, the dancing is flattering and the feast with flattery!
The Baptist is truncated and Herod is confused. Prayers, Lord, Thy Forerunner, give peace to our souls.

Sermon of His Beatitude Volodymyr, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine (in Ukrainian)

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. He was executed by order of one of the four rulers in the tetrarchy of Galilee Herod, and his head was beheaded.

It so happened that from ancient times on this day they honor the memory of this servant of God. John the Baptist is respected more than all saints.

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

The Gospel of Matthew and Mark tells about the painful death in 32 from the birth of Christ.

After dividing the land of Palestine into 4, Antipas later became the leader of Galia. He was married to the daughter of the king Arefa. After leaving his wife, Herod began to live with his brother's wife, Herodias. John always took him out into the open, but Herod was afraid of inflicting physical harm on the prophet and imprisoned him in prison.

The ruler arranged a great celebration in honor of his name days, where he invited a large number of distinguished guests. At the birthday party, the daughter of Herodias, Salome, danced in front of everyone. Herod liked the dance and swore to everyone present that he would 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 he gave the order to do so.

The head was beheaded and 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 the lands of Herod, which were located on the Mount of Olives. The prophet's disciples buried the remains of the body. After these events, Christians began to hold this holiday.

But, as the story of the holiday of the Beheading of John the Baptist tells, it did not 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 with a sharpened piece of ice. This head was delivered to Herod and Herodias. Arefa began to pay for the death of his daughter and, in a rage, gave instructions to send Herod and Herodias to prison in Galia, where they soon died.

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

After a certain period of time, the church founded by Innocent turned out to be abandoned.

The first finding of the head

During the reign of the ruler Constantine the Great, two Orthodox monks dream twice about 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 carrying a sack.

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 create, he decided to use it. They soon learned about his blasphemy, the priest hid his head, hoping to take it back again. But the Lord did not allow this to happen. And inside the cave, which was not far from Emesa, at the site of the relic, a new monastery was erected.

Second finding of the head

Further, in the fifth century, the teacher and novice of the Lavra saw 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 was moved to the city of Constantinople.

Further searches for the head

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

In Constantinople, a coup took place due to the migrations of John Chrysostom, and the head of Saint John the Baptist was hidden in Emesa. Further, during the time of persecution for icons, it was hid in Comana. But during the night reading of the prayer, 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 the ministers do not spread about this.

The relics of John the Baptist

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

The construction of the temple took place thanks 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 cut round objects on the Beheading of John the Baptist?" As can be understood from what we read earlier, this is all 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 cannot be done? One of the most basic prohibitions is picking up something sharp. On this day, it is strictly forbidden to cut or saw anything. It is forbidden even to cut the bread. 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 cannot be done? It is forbidden to eat tomatoes or watermelons on this day. You can not eat and other foods of a round shape that are red. Believers believe that all these products are reminiscent of the torment of John the Baptist.

Also under special prohibition is cutting, slicing and cutting cabbage. It is forbidden even to ferment and salt it.

You can not hold any holidays and concerts, weddings and weddings. Conduct christening, dancing, singing and any festivities. 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 sorrow, regret, suffering and grief 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

Up to this point in time, there are icons of the Truncation of the head of John the Baptist, created in the early Byzantine era. A painting from the Alexandrian Chronicle and St. John the Baptist in Cavushin, Cappadocia.

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

The head of Saint John was painted separately from the whole body. Blood poured from his neck in a stream, and the "executioner" standing next to him put the murder weapon in the sheath.

In the icons of ancient Russia, a head was described as being in a vessel; a church was used as a background. On both sides were the Incas and the ruler Constantine.

Many times icon painters from Russia depicted the prophet on his knees, his hands were tied in front, and the soldier, who was ordered to be executed by the tsar, was just beginning to bring the weapon 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 above 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 Forerunner (Troparion of the Forerunner, Kontakion of the Forerunner and Magnification of the Forerunner) to ask for the good of your own family, help in defeating evil spirits and expose evil designs.

Orthodox rituals and conspiracies held on the holiday

In the Beheading of John the Baptist, all believers need to go to the temple, read a prayer and ask for an apology for all their atrocities. Our great-grandfathers also believed that if we make a wish on this day, then John the Baptist will be able to help fulfill it.

Usually they pray for the health of their children, relatives and all neighbors.

Among the main ones 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, if you don't have one, 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 clergymen, if you fast on this day, you will be able to save yourself from 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 prayer.
3. You definitely need to go to church and light a candle there.

Folk rituals and conspiracies

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

1. On this day, be sure to collect carrots and beets from the gardens.
2. In the days of Russia on this day, conspiracies were carried out on horses to make them healthier. To date, by analogy with horses, a conspiracy of cars is being carried out. Before carrying out a conspiracy, you should sprinkle 3 pinches of salt 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 the evil eye is present on him. It is on this day that you can most effectively get rid of it. To do this, you will need to wash yourself three times with water taken from a well or a spring, and then read the following words: “Help me mother nature to cleanse myself of filth and sin and from the envy of others, so that my life flows in its former direction, so that my body and soul are not tormented various adversities. May it be so". The conspiracy and the entire ritual should be repeated for 3 days.
4. On this day, you definitely need to say goodbye to summer and prepare for a meeting with winter.

Performing all these manipulations guaranteed the person a further healthy and happy life.

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

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

Herodias was the granddaughter of King Herod the Great of Judea - the very one who initiated the massacre of the babies. And by the order of his granddaughter, John the Baptist, the righteous and predecessor of Jesus Christ, was killed.

The name of the Jewish king Herod the Great has become a household name: the word "Herod" in our minds is associated with cruelty and inhumanity. Nevertheless, historians assess his activities not only negatively. This king did a lot to build Judah. But about his granddaughter Herodias, history has not conveyed a single good word to us.

Tongue of the rebellious Forerunner

John the Baptist (Forerunner) was the son of Elizabeth (a relative of Mary, mother of Jesus Christ) and the priest Zechariah. He was born a few months before the one whom Christians consider the Savior. And later, in his sermons, he predicted his appearance.

John the Baptist led a hermitic lifestyle: he wore simple, coarse clothing and ate the simplest food. At the age of about 30, he began to walk in Judea, preaching repentance for sins to its inhabitants. He baptized people by washing them in the waters of the Jordan River and saying that this ceremony would bring repentance and cleansing from sins. In addition, John stated: “I baptize in water; but there is [Someone] among you, Whom you do not know. He is the one who follows me, but who is ahead of me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of His shoes. "

Seeing Jesus once, the Forerunner said: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is, about whom I said: a man is following me, who has stood in front of me, because he was before me. I did not know Him; but for this he came to baptize in water, that He might be revealed to Israel. "

Soon John the Baptist became known to all the inhabitants of Judea. He was very popular among his compatriots, although he preached clearly not a Jewish tradition. The compatriots of the Baptist were clearly impressed by John's asceticism, his desire to make the world of people a better place, as well as fearlessness. The fact is that the Forerunner was not shy about telling the truth to anyone. And representatives of the authorities - including. For this he had to pay a dear price.

Cruel incestors

At that time, Galilee and Perea, part of Judea, where the subsequent terrible events unfolded, were ruled by the son of Herod the Great - Herod Antipas. The ruler of this area was considered a woman named Herodias. She was not the legal wife of Herod and was generally his niece.

From childhood, Herodias was distinguished not only by a penchant for debauchery. She neglected one of the most important rules - the prohibition of incest. From an early age, this woman strove for the highest position, therefore, in her intimate preferences, she did not go beyond the "framework" of the Herodias dynasty, founded by her grandfather.

The success with the men of her own family first led her to marriage with her first uncle, Herod Beth. From him, 20-year-old Herodias gave birth to a daughter Salome in about 5 AD. A marriage between such close relatives was a real slap in the face for devout Jews who feared incest like fire. But the compatriots somehow digested this marriage of Herodias.

However, this relative did not seem promising enough to an ambitious woman. And she turned her gaze to the next one. Another uncle, Herod Philip, became the new spouse of the libertine. The people shuddered. But Herodias wanted to spit on the customs of her ancestors. The lust for power became her religion.

And again a puncture - Herod Philip did not shine a high position. What should I do? The evil and power-hungry Herodias wrung her hands in frustration. I had to change my life partner again. And there is no need to doubt it - again the closest relative has become. And again the uncle - Herod Antipas, who at the time of the beginning of life with Herodias was the ruler of Galilee and Perea. Of course, these parts of Judea are not the whole Roman Empire. But it’s better this way than vegetating among ordinary aristocrats, the ambitious woman thought. It should be noted here that by the time of his rapprochement with Herodias, Herod Antipas was married to the daughter of Areta, the king of the Nabateans. The wife did not want to let her husband go to the homeless woman so easily. She complained to her father, and Areta went to war against Antipas. The son of Herod the Great lost this battle. But he did not return to his wife - the beautiful niece Herodias too bewitched him with her charms. How many people died in that battle is unknown. And for Herodias, human blood was thinner than water ...

Becoming the wife of Herod Antipas, Herodias mostly satisfied her power ambitions. She lived happily with her husband and her daughter Salome. The couple robbed the subjects mercilessly, imposing an unbearable tribute on the Jews.

The people were terrified. But, as often happens, he was silent. The greedy incest grew more and more impudent.

The only person who openly opposed the presumptuous authority was John the Baptist. This man, as we have already written, led a hermitic life. And he did not at all resemble the sleek representatives of the local aristocracy. He openly branded the incestor and her husband, who robbed their people.

At first, Herodias did not take the Forerunner and everything he said to heart. “You never know what some ragamuffin is carrying,” she thought. But soon Herodias began to report that John, despite his beggar appearance, enjoyed great prestige among the Jews (even though some of his statements were contrary to Judaism). And she understood: she needed to shut him up somehow. But how? The failure was that Herod Antipas, who was always ready to submit to the insidious beauty, began to resist. He claimed: John is a righteous man and sage. In addition, Antipas did not want to execute the Baptist in fear of popular anger.

The only thing that Herodias achieved was the imprisonment of John in the fortress of Macheron. This is how the historian describes this terrible place: “The fortress itself was formed by a rocky hill, rising to an extraordinary height and therefore difficult to reach, but nature made sure that it was inaccessible. On all sides, the hill is surrounded by abysses of incredible depth, so that crossing them is almost impossible. The western mountain depression stretches for 60 stadia and reaches the Asphalt Lake, and it is on this side that Macheron reaches its highest height. The northern and southern hollows, although they are inferior in length to those just mentioned, also make it impossible to attack the fortress. As for the eastern one, it is at least 100 cubits deep, but adjoins the mountain opposite to Macheron. "

There was no need to doubt that the imprisonment did not become a serious test for John - a wise man and ascetic in his nature. Herodias understood this at once. And she decided to destroy the Baptist at all costs.

Birthday execution

It was 28 AD. One of the nights in the palace of Herod Antipas, the birthday of the ruler was celebrated. Both the guests and the hosts were so drunk after midnight that they could no longer remember themselves from joy and drunken prowess.

At that moment, an insidious plan ripened in Herodias's head. She asked her young daughter Salome to dance in front of the guests a depraved dance in the nude. Antipa liked this proposal very much. But then, spoiled from a young age, Salome, as her mother had advised, decided to break a little. Drunk Antipas declared: he is ready to pay any price for the dance. And Salome “at the instigation of her mother, said: give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was grieved, but for the sake of the oath and those attending with him, he commanded that it be given to her, and he sent to cut off John's head in prison. And his head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother ”(Matt. 14: 8-11).

John was killed. His head was brought on a platter to Salome - she called her mother, and Herodias, in a fury, pricked the tongue of the man who told the people so much truth about her with a needle ...

What happened next? According to one version, Antipas and Herodias lost power and died in poverty around 40 AD. According to another, the earth opened under the feet of the killers and swallowed them ...

The death of Salome was also terrible - she was wiped to death by the ice floes of the river, which she crossed in winter. Two ice floes closed around her neck and tore off her head, just as the assassin's knife once cut off the head of John the Baptist.

Maria Konyukova