Beheading of St John the Baptist
About Beheading of the Forerunner →
Saints commemorated
-
Our Holy Mother Theodora of Salonica (879)
-
Arkadios of Arsinoe
Arkadios was bishop of Arsinoe on the south-western coast of Cyprus — the ancient city near modern Polis Chrysochous — and is remembered in the Cypriot synaxaria as a wonderworker. He was born there of wealthy and devout parents, Michael and Anna, was sent away for his education and returned home, became known for his ascetic manner of life, and on the death of his predecessor Nikon was raised to the episcopal throne of his native city, which he governed to a peaceful end on August 29. His brother Theosebios the God-bearer of Arsinoe is kept on October 12. The record is a synaxarion memory rather than a biography, and it is given here at the length the evidence allows; his day falls on the Beheading of the Forerunner, under whose shadow he is easily overlooked.
-
John the Forerunner
John the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord — son of the priest Zachariah and the righteous Elizabeth, kinsman of Christ, desert ascetic, preacher of repentance at the Jordan, and the one found worthy to baptize the incarnate God — is honoured by the Orthodox Church above every saint except the Theotokos. The Lord himself pronounced the verdict the Church repeats: "among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater." Last and greatest of the prophets, he pointed to the Lamb of God with his finger, rebuked a king, was beheaded for righteousness' sake, and — the tradition sings — went as forerunner even to those in Hades. His cycle of six fixed feasts, from his Conception (September 23) to the Findings of his Head, structures the whole liturgical year, and every Tuesday of the week is dedicated to him.
-
Joseph the Sanctified of Samakos
Joseph the Sanctified (c. 1440 – 1511), surnamed Samakos, was a Cretan hieromonk of the last generation before the Ottoman conquest of the island, a priest-monk of radical poverty and prayer whose incorrupt and fragrant relics made him one of the best-loved saints of Crete and, afterwards, of Zakynthos. Born in the far east of Crete and formed from boyhood in the monasteries of his homeland, he gave away his inheritance to the poor, was ordained priest despite his youth, and lived a hidden ascetic life marked by unceasing almsgiving — the tradition remembers loaves miraculously supplied when he had given all his bread away. He reposed on January 22, 1511, and his relics were found incorrupt and sweet-smelling and worked many healings. When the Ottomans took Herakleion in 1669, the relics were carried to safety on Zakynthos, where they are venerated still. He is kept on January 22 (his repose) and August 29 (the deposition of his relics).
-
Theodora of Thessalonica
Theodora (812–892) was a married woman of Aegina who came as a refugee to Thessalonica from the Arab raids on the Aegean, was widowed there, and spent fifty-five years as a nun in the convent of the Protomartyr Stephen alongside her own daughter — who entered before her, and eventually became her abbess. She performed no spectacular austerities and worked no miracles in her lifetime; the long Life written of her soon after her death praises exactly the virtues that do not make a story: obedience, silence, industry, and the acceptance of being ruled by her own child. After her repose her relics were translated to a separate sarcophagus and were found to stream a fragrant myrrh, and Thessalonica has venerated her ever since as one of its own, beside Demetrius and Gregory Palamas. Her day is August 29, the day of her repose; because that day belongs wholly to the Beheading of the Forerunner, her celebration is in practice kept on August 3.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Sebbi (Sæbbi), King of the East Saxons and monk (c.694)
- St. Edwold (Eadwold) of Cerne, hermit (9th C)
- St. Velleicus (Willeic) (8th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Apolytikion — Tone 2
The memory of the righteous is kept with praises, but for thee, O Forerunner, the witness of the Lord sufficeth; for thou wast shown to be truly more venerable than the prophets, in that thou wast counted worthy to baptize in the streams the One whom thou hadst proclaimed. Therefore, having contended for the truth, thou didst rejoice to bring the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God was made manifest in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy.
Doxastikon
O Forerunner of the Saviour, thou didst rebuke kings that they should work no iniquity; and therefore the plaything of a lawless woman persuaded Herod to cut off thy head. For this cause, from the rising of the sun unto its going down, thy name is praised. Having boldness before the Lord, entreat him earnestly for the salvation of our souls.
Exaposteilaria
Let us crown with hymns of praise the Forerunner of grace, who was made known as greater than the prophets and became the first among the apostles; for he was beheaded for the law of the Lord. Lewd Herod, having treacherously beheaded thee, O Baptist of the Saviour, planter of chastity — the reproofs of thy tongue he was not able to cut off at all.
Kontakion
The glorious beheading of the Forerunner was a certain dispensation of God, that he might preach to those in Hades the coming of the Saviour. Let Herodias therefore lament, who begged for a lawless murder; for she loved neither the law of God nor the age that lives, but the counterfeit and the passing one.
Kontakion — Tone 1
Zachariah the great rejoiceth with splendour, with Elizabeth his all-glorious yokefellow, for she hath worthily conceived John the Forerunner, whom the Archangel announced with rejoicing, and whom we men honour as is due, an initiate of the grace of God.
Oikos
Herod's birthday was shown to all to be unholy: for in the midst of them that feasted, the head of him that fasted was served up as a dish. Joy was joined to sorrow, and with the laughter was mingled bitter lamentation; for she that bore the Baptist's head upon a platter came in before them all, as the girl had asked. And because of that frenzy, mourning fell upon all that dined that day with the king; for it delighted neither them nor Herod himself, and they were grieved with a grief that was not true, but counterfeit and passing.
Second
Working iniquity, O Forerunner, Herod gave thy honoured head unto a woman; and we, venerating it, rejoice — while Herodias weeps and laments, and Herod with her, and she that danced.
Stichera
While the birthday feast of the most shameless Herod was being kept, the pleasure of the wanton dancer's oath was fulfilled; for the head of the Forerunner, cut off, was carried in like a portion of meat upon a platter to them that sat at table. O hateful banquet, full of unholy deed and of defiled murder! But we, honouring the Baptist as is meet, as greater than all born of women, call him blessed. The disciple of the all-wicked devil danced, and took thy head, O Forerunner, for her wages. O banquet full of blood! Would that thou hadst not sworn, O lawless Herod, thou child of falsehood; and having sworn, would that thou hadst not kept thy word — for it were better to have lied and gained life, than to have told the truth and cut off the head of the Forerunner. But we, honouring the Baptist as is meet, as greater than all born of women, call him blessed. **Again Herodias rageth, again she is troubled.** O deceitful dance, and drinking with deceit! The Baptist was beheaded, and Herod was troubled. By the intercessions of thy Forerunner, O Lord, grant peace unto our souls.
Stichera
What shall we call thee, O Prophet? An angel? An apostle? Or a martyr? An angel, for thou didst live as one bodiless; an apostle, for thou didst make disciples of the nations; a martyr, for thy head was cut off for Christ's sake. Entreat him, that our souls may find mercy. Let us keep the memorial of the severed head of the Forerunner: once upon a platter gushing forth blood, and now to the ends of the earth pouring forth healings. Wishing to escape the reproofs of his lawless deed, Herod treacherously delivered thy head, O Forerunner, to a lawless woman; for the wretch did not perceive that in carrying it about upon a dish he was denouncing himself. But as a practical teacher of purity and a saving guide to repentance, intercede, O Baptist, with Christ, that we may be delivered from the passions of dishonour.
Troparion — Tone 4
A rule of faith and an image of meekness, a teacher of abstinence, hath the reality shown thee to thy flock; therefore hast thou gained by humility the things on high, and by poverty the things that are rich. O Father and hierarch Arkadios, intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Rejoice, O barren one, that hadst not borne until now: for behold, thou hast conceived the lamp of the Sun, who is to enlighten all the world, that lay sick with blindness. Dance, O Zachariah, and cry out with boldness: the one to be born is the Prophet of the Most High.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O Father, was the divine image preserved with exactness; for taking up the Cross thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore doth thy spirit rejoice with the Angels, O Venerable Joseph.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O Mother, was the divine image preserved with exactness; for taking up the Cross thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy deeds thou hast taught us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, which is a thing immortal. Therefore doth thy spirit, O venerable Theodora, rejoice with the angels.
Verses
A murderous hand severs with the sword the head of him who laid his hand upon the head of the Lord. About the twenty-and-ninth the bronze cut through the Forerunner's neck.
Readings
Vespers
Composite 8 - Isaiah 40, 41, 45, 48, 54
1Thus says the Lord: Comfort, comfort my people, says God. Priests, speak to the heart of Jerusalem. Comfort her, because her humiliation has been completed; for her has sin has been abolished, because she has received from the Lord’s hand double for her sins. A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God. Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill made low; what is crooked will become straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Go up onto a high mountain, you who bring good tidings to Sion; lift up your voice with strength, you who bring good tidings to Jerusalem. Lift it up, do not be afraid. I the Lord God, I, the God of Israel, will hearken and will not forsake them; but I will open rivers from the mountains and springs in the middle of plains. I will turn the wilderness into water meadows and the thirsty earth with water courses. Let the heavens rejoice from on high and let the clouds rain justice. Let the earth sprout and blossom with mercy and justice. Announce a voice of gladness to the end of the earth and let this be heard: Say that the Lord has delivered his servant Jacob. And if they thirst through deserts, he will bring water for them from a rock. Rejoice you barren who have never given birth, break out and shout, you who have never known birth pangs, for the children of the deserted are more than those of her who has a husband.
Composite 9 - Malachi 3, 4
1Thus says the Lord Almighty: See, I am sending my Angel, my messenger, before your face, who will prepare your way before you. And the Lord whom you seek will come to his temple. And who will endure the day of his entrance? And who will withstand at his appearing? Because he will enter like fire in a smelting furnace and like the lye of launderers. And he will come to you in judgement; and he will be a swift witness against the wicked and against adulteresses and against those swear falsely in his name and those who do not fear him, says the Lord Almighty. Because I am the Lord your God, and I have not changed and you, children of Jacob, have perverted the laws and not kept them. Therefore turn back to me and I will turn back to you, says the Lord Almighty. And all the nations will call you blessed and you will know that I am the Lord who discern between just and lawless on the day on which I make a peculiar possession of those who love me. Know then and remember the law of Moses my servant, as I gave him commandment on Horeb, to all Israel ordinances and judgements. And see, I will send you Elias the Thesbite, before the great and manifest day of the Lord comes; he will turn again the heart of father to son and of a man to his neighbour, lest when I come I smite the earth grievously, says the Lord Almighty, God the Holy One of Israel.
Composite 3 - Wisdom of Solomon 4, 5
1A just man if he comes to his end will be at rest. A just man who dies will condemn the ungodly who are alive; for they will see the end of a just man and will not understand what they counselled concerning him. For the Lord will break the ungodly, render them voiceless and cast them headlong, and he will shake them from the foundations and they will be utterly worsted in sorrow, and their memory shall perish. They shall come with fear at the accounting of their sins, and their iniquities will convict them to their face. Then the just will stand with much boldness in the face of those who afflicted him and made his toils of no account. When they see this they will be troubled with great fear and will be amazed at the wonder of his salvation. For they will say as they repent and with anguish they will groan and say: Is this he whom we fools once made a laughing stock and a byword of reproach? We reckoned his life folly and his end dishonour. How has he been numbered among the children of God and his lot with the Saints? Therefore we have erred from the way of truth and the light of righteousness has not shone on us and the sun has not dawned on us. We have been filled with paths of lawlessness and destruction and journeyed through trackless paths, but have not known the way of the Lord.
10th Matins Gospel
John 21.1-14
1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
Epistle
1 Corinthians 4.9-16
9For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
Acts 13.25-33 (Forerunner)
25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30But God raised him from the dead: 31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Gospel
Matthew 17.14-23
14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. 22And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
Mark 6.14-30 (Forerunner)
14And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 15Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. 16But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. 17For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her. 18For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. 19Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: 20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 26And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. 30And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.