Every year on September 11, the greatest celebration for the Orthodox Church is held - the Beheading of the Head of John the Baptist. It was on this day that the painful death of John the Baptist occurred. On the orders of one of the four rulers in the tetrarchy of Galilee Herod, he was executed and cut off his head.
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 celebration
The Gospel of Matthew and Mark tells us about the painful death in the year 32 from the Nativity of Christ.
Having divided into 4 plots of land Palestine, later the demise of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas became the leader of Galia. He was married to the daughter of King Arefa. After leaving his wife, Herod began to live with his brother's wife - Herodias. John always took him to clean water, but Herod was afraid to inflict physical harm on the prophet and imprisoned him in prison.
The ruler staged a great celebration in honor of his name day, where he invited a large number of guests of honor. At the birthday party, the daughter of Herodias - Salome, danced in front of everyone. Herod liked the dance and swore to all those present that he would fulfill any request or whim. Salome asked her mother, and she ordered the head of the prophet to be cut off. Herod had no choice, and he gave the order to do so.
Having beheaded John the Baptist, they gave Salome the head. 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 Husa found her head, and, having hidden it in a vessel, buried it in the lands of Herod, which were located on the Mount of Olives. The disciples of the prophet buried the remains of the body. After these events, Christians began to hold this holiday.
But, as the story of the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist tells, this 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. To get out of it, she was not destined, because she was cut off the head with a pointed piece of ice. This head was delivered to Herod and Herodias. Arefa began reckoning for the death of his daughter and in a rage gave instructions to send Herod and Herodias to the prison in Galia, where they soon died.
After many years, the nobleman Innocent bought the land on which the remains of St. John the Baptist were buried. And a church was built on that land, but before his death Innocent hid his head in the same place where he had dug it up.
After a certain period of time, the church, founded by Innocent, was abandoned.
The first finding of the head
During the reign of ruler Constantine the Great, two Orthodox 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 priest Eustathius took possession of it. Having learned about the miracles that the head could do, he decided to use it. They soon learned of his sacrilege, the priest hid his head, hoping to regain it. 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.
The second finding of the head
Then, in the fifth century, the mentor and novice of the laurel saw a dream in which the prophet John told about the whereabouts of the burial of the head, and it was again found. The sacred head was 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 searches
The next mention of the head of John the Baptist is in the middle of the 9th century.
A coup occurred in Constantinople due to the relocation 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 the Comans. But performing a night reading of the prayer, Patriarch Ignatius saw the image of John the Baptist and found out about the place in which his head is kept.
Today, there is an opinion that the head is on the territory of Athos, but the ministers do not extend this.
The relics of John the Baptist
Where today the head of John the Baptist is located is not known for certain, but part of his relics is located in the church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on the territory of the Vinogradovo settlement.
The construction of the temple was due to the funds of the owner of the estate Vinogradovo - Alexander Glebov.
What is forbidden to do on holiday?
Most people ask the following question: "For what reason is it forbidden to incise round objects into the Beheading of John the Baptist?" As can be understood from what was read earlier, all this is interconnected with the painful death of the prophet, who was cut off his head.
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 anything. It is forbidden even to cut bread. It can be broken into pieces that day or bought already chopped.
Even on the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist, what should not be done? It is forbidden to eat tomatoes or watermelons on this day. Do not eat other round-shaped products that are red in color. Believers believe that all these products are reminiscent of the torment of John the Baptist.
Also under special prohibition is the cross-section, slicing and cutting of cabbage. It is forbidden to even ferment and salt.
It is strictly forbidden to bring food on a dish on the truncation of the head of John the Baptist.
You can not hold any holidays and concerts, weddings and weddings. Conduct christening, dancing, singing and any kind of festivities. This is considered a mortal sin, similar to that committed by Salome. You can neither sing, nor, especially, dance.
Post Compliance Features
During the celebration of the Beheading of John the Baptist, a severe fast is established to express regret, regret, suffering and sadness about the painful death of the Great Prophet.
It is forbidden to use dairy, meat and fish products throughout the day.
The story of the creation of the 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. Painting from the Alexandrian Chronicle and painting of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Cavusin, in Cappadocia.
The following iconographic content was widespread in the Middle Byzantine era: the prophet is in a bowed position, a soldier is sweeping his neck with his sword; The background for this miniature is desert.
The head of St. John was written 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 its sheath.
In the icons of ancient Russia, a head located in a vessel was described; a church was used as a background. On both sides were the Incas and ruler Constantine.
Many times icon painters from Russia portrayed the prophet on his knees, his hands were tied in front, and the soldier, who was ordered to execute the tsar, was just starting to bring a 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 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 point in time, there are several prayers to the prophet John the Baptist (Troparion the Baptist, Kontakion the Baptist and the Greatness of the Baptist) to petition the good of his own family, to help defeat evil spirits and expose evil designs.
Orthodox ceremonies and conspiracies conducted on holiday
On the Orthodox holiday, the truncation of the head of John the Baptist, all believers need to go to the temple, read a prayer and apologize for all their atrocities. Our great-grandfathers also believed that if you make a wish that day, John the Baptist will be able to help in its fulfillment.
Usually they pray for the health of their children, relatives and all those close to them.
Among the main church ceremonies that are held on this holiday, the following are distinguished:
- Reading prayers. The ideal option would be to turn to the miraculous icon of John the Baptist, if you do not 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.
- Following a strict post. According to some clergy, if you follow the 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 prayers.
- Be sure to go to church and put a candle there.
Folk rites 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 Beheading of John the Baptist the following signs, beliefs, rites and plots are as follows:
- On this day, you should definitely collect carrots and beets from the gardens.
- In the days of Russia, conspiracies were carried out on horses that day to make them healthier. Today, by analogy with horses, a conspiracy of cars is being carried out. Before conspiring, you should sprinkle 3 pinches of salt on the car, and then pronounce special words: “From all kinds of troubles, from evil people, from the influence of devils. Amen".
- If a person dear to you has been ill for a long time, then it is possible that there is an evil eye on him. It is on this day that you can most effectively get rid of it. To do this, you need to wash your face with water three times from a well or spring, and then read the following words: “Help my mother nature to cleanse myself from filth and sin and from the envy of someone else, so that my life would flow back into the old channel, so that my body and soul would not be tormented various adversities. May it be so". The plot and the entire ritual should be repeated for 3 days.
- On this day, you must definitely say goodbye to the summer and prepare for a meeting with the winter.
Performing all these manipulations guaranteed a person a healthy 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 equal to this man who was not afraid to even go against the great king. If every believer on this day observes all the rules, then he will also contribute to upholding righteous thoughts and ideas.
If for some reason you are not able to hold fast or visit the temple, then just pray in front of the icon of John the Baptist - this is a sign of respect.