The Prophet and Baptizer Ivan the Baptist

The Prophet John the Baptist (Ivan the Baptist) is the most holy after the Virgin Mary. The word "forerunner", by the way, means the preparatory stage preceding the main event. At the time of the first coming of Christ into mankind, it was the prophet John who carried out this stage, therefore he received such a name.

What was the purpose of the Forerunner?

The appearance of the Forerunner was necessary in order to prepare people for the coming of Jesus. John chose the symbol of entry into this period rite of immersion in the Jordan River. Water washes the body, so repentance washes the human soul. The prophet said that we should repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

History of the Prophet's Birth

The appearance of his birth reminds the birth of the Virgin Mary. After all, her parents were also elderly people and were considered barren. At a venerable age, when the miracle of the birth of a child could no longer be hoped for, the Lord heard their prayers.

Mother of Ivan was the sister of Mary's mother, that is, she was an aunt of the Mother of God. It was to her aunt that she came, realizing that she was carrying a child, purulously conceived. Therefore, Ivan was a relative of Jesus in the life on earth.

How John Avoided Death

The future prophet and Saint John the Forerunner escaped by the mercy of God's death among the many babies killed in Bethlehem, as well as Jesus, born only six months after him.

The fact is that after the birth of Jesus and the worship of the wise men and pastors who predicted that a new King of the people of Israel would be born, Herod, the wicked ruler, ordered the killing of all babies, so that nothing threatened his reign, so that he had no rivals. Upon learning of this, Saint Elizabeth (so called the mother of John the Baptist) went into the wilderness with her son. She was hiding in the cave for a while. At this time, the priest St. Zacharias was in Jerusalem, where he served in the temple. The king sent soldiers to him in order to find out where John is with his mother. The saint said that he did not know about it. For refusing to cooperate, he was killed right in the temple. Elisabeth was in the desert for a while with her son, and then died there. Guarded by an angel, John remained here.

Living in the desert

John at an early age chose an unusual way of life. He went to the Judean Desert and settled here in one of the caves. In fasting and prayer he remained until the age of 31. The Forerunner talked incessantly with God, spent all his time in prayers and hymns. He wore the simplest, hardest clothing made of fabric made from camel hair. The forerunner girded his attire with a leather belt. He manifested extreme forbearance in food. It consisted only of roots and leaves, acrylic (genus of locusts) and wild honey. Hiding in the desert, leading a life free from close fellowship with people, he expected when the Lord would call him to fulfill his assigned role. And finally God called him.

Baptism of the people in the river. Jordan

The prophet John, obeying the Lord, came to the Jordan River in order to prepare people for the acceptance of the Messiah (Christ). Before the festival of cleansing, a lot of people converged to the river for religious bathing. Then John turned to the people. He preached baptism and repentance for the remission of sins.

The essence of the sermon was that people, before exercising an external ablution, must first be morally cleansed and prepare themselves in this way for the acceptance of the gospel. The baptism of John, of course, was not yet a sacrament of Christian baptism. It was later carried out by Jesus Christ. And John only carried out a spiritual preparation for the future baptism with the Holy Spirit and water.

The forerunner himself understood that he was only preparing the way for the Lord. He answered those who thought that he was the Messiah, that he baptizes only with water, but the strongest one is coming, capable of baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire, and Ivan is unworthy to carry his shoes and tie belts on his sandals.

The Baptism of Jesus

Hearing about Jesus, Ivan sent his disciples to find out if he was the Messiah. The Lord answered it to the disciples, saying that the lepers are being cleansed, the dead are resurrected, the demons are leaving the person - all this indicates the appearance of the Messiah.

After a while, Jesus came to be baptized to John in the Jordan. When he saw him, he asked whether Christ had come to be baptized with him. That is, he considered himself unworthy of such high honor. However, Jesus replied that the prophets must fulfill what they said.

Miraculous phenomena accompanied the baptism of Christ. The Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove from heaven and said in the voice of God the Father that this is His beloved Son. Ivan the Baptist, having received a revelation of Christ, spoke of Him to the people, that this is the Lamb of God, who is destined to take upon himself the sins of the world. The two disciples of John, hearing this, joined Christ. These were the apostles Andrew the First-Called and John the Evangelist.

Disciples of the Forerunner

Ivan the Forerunner, as well as Jesus, had their disciples. The teaching of the prophet was as strict as his ministry. Ivan severely denounced the morals prevailing in society. He called the scribes, Pharisees and sinners "broods of vipers". Naturally, he did not acquire special popularity among the hypocrites and the powers that be.

The Prophet John the Baptist completed his ministry with the Savior's baptism. He severely and fearlessly denounced the vices of both the powerful of this world, and ordinary people. For this he soon suffered. Let's talk about how it happened.

Salome asks John's head

King Herod Antipas, who was the son of Herod the Great, ordered to catch the prophet and put him in prison for exposing him in the abandonment of his legal wife, and for cohabitation with Herodias. This woman used to be married to Philip, his brother.

Herod made a feast on his birthday. Many noble guests gathered at him. Salomia, daughter of Herodias, indiscreetly danced before the king, that he swore to give her everything she asked for. The mother-taught dancer asked John Baptist's head for a dish.

The beheading and its consequences

Herod respected the Forerunner as a prophet and was saddened by this request. But the oath given to them, he was ashamed to break. The truncation of Ivan the Baptist took place as follows. Herod sent the guard into the dungeon to cut off Ivan's head and give it to the dancer. She took it to her mother. Hurling at the head of the prophet, Herodias threw her into the mud. John's body was buried by his disciples in Sebastia, the Samaritan city. Herod received a deserved retribution for his crime. His troops in 38 years after R.Kh. Were defeated by Arefoy, who opposed the tsar for the dishonor of his daughter. Herod left this daughter for Herodias. A year later Caligula, the Roman emperor, exiled the king to imprisonment.

The fate of John's right hand

The Evangelist Luke, according to tradition, bypassing various villages and cities with a sermon, took with him from Sevastia to Antioch a part of the relics of John - his right hand. Thus the hand was saved from the reproach, which in 300 years was subjected to the body of the Baptist by the hand of Julian the Apostate, a pagan king. When the Muslims took control of Antioch (in 959), the deacon moved this relic to Chalcedon, and then to Constantinople. Here it was kept until the Turks conquered the city.

However, this people also revered the prophet. Wanting to reconcile with the knights of the Order of St. John, militantly, Sultan Bayazit II decided to give them this shrine. Dobrynya, a Russian pilgrim who later became Antony, a holy and Novgorod archbishop, in 1200 saw the hand of the Forerunner in the royal chambers . It is known from historical monuments that Emperor Baldwin, after the capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1263, gave Otton de Cicone the humeral bone of the relics. He sent her to France, the Cisterion abbey. This shrine in the late XIV - early XV centuries. Saw Russian pilgrims in Constantinople. In 1453 the Turks seized Constantinople. His relics were collected at the will of the conqueror of Mohammed and were kept in the royal treasury. After that, the right hand of the Baptist was in St. Petersburg, in the Winter Palace (Church of the Savior).

Where was the head of the prophet after death?

The head of the prophet was found by the pious John. This relic was buried on the Mount of Olives, in a vessel. After some time, digging for the foundation of the ditch temple, one pious ascetic discovered his head and kept it at home. Before his death, fearing that unbelievers would discover this treasure, he buried it in the ground where he found it. During the reign of Constantine the Great, two monks came to worship the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. One of them appeared the Forerunner and pointed out where his head was. Christians from this time celebrate the first acquisition of the head of John. However, another holiday associated with this prophet is more popular. And now we will tell about it.

The Day of Ivan Forerunner

On September 11, one of the twelve feast days is celebrated. It is very important for Christians. Surely, many of you will be curious to know what the holiday of Ivan the Baptist means. This is the day of the Beating of his head. On this occasion, it is customary to observe a strict post, and also to refuse any work. The signs on Ivan the Precursor are very numerous. We will talk about the most famous of them.

Signs on the day I. Forerunners

It is believed that a person who observes the post of September 11 will be completely cleansed from sins. Another sign is that the fasting person will fulfill his wish.

However, not all the beliefs of this day are so favorable. Beheading is one of the most dangerous holidays. It is believed that the child born on this day will be unhappy. It is also said that if you get injured on this day, the wound does not heal very well.

It is not customary to use a knife and other sharp objects on September 11, because, according to the belief, a person can remain without a head. In addition, people said that if you hold a knife on this day, you can take on the sins of the murderers of John. And yet, according to the legend of his death, all who were involved in this crime died a terrible death.

In addition, on the day of Beating, it is not recommended to use objects resembling a dish, head, or sword. For example, do not eat round fruits and vegetables, put round plates and dishes on the table.

Another sign - on the day of the Beating it is impossible to sing and dance, since this action can bring death to the person. You probably figured out what it's all about. After all, Salome danced to solicit the head of John the Baptist.

A good sign is that if on the day of the holiday a white dog is following you, because it will bring luck, prosperity, well-being to your house. You should not drive her away, for John the Baptist blesses a man for a prosperous life.

Who helps the Forerunner?

Icons of the Baptist are very popular. And who helps Ivan the Forerunner? He is prayed for, asking for repentance, to get rid of a headache. In addition, the icon of Ivan the Baptist will not be superfluous in the houses of beekeepers, which he also helps. After all, it is known that Ivan ate honey from the bees when he was in the desert. And the parents of John the Baptist can be contacted in the absence of children in the marriage. In addition, they can be asked about the safe birth of a baby.

So, we told about who the prophet and baptizer John was, also described the holiday. Ivan the Forerunner fully fulfilled his role, which was intended, and which is fixed in his name. Otherwise, it could not be, because he steadfastly followed the will of God. Therefore, the holiday of Ivan the Baptist is so popular today. Remembering him, many people are strengthened in faith.