St. John, the Baptist and Forerunner of Christ, is considered the last in the line of Old Testament Prophets, and the forerunner of a new Christian era. He is depicted with unkempt hair, wearing a robe with a camel hair lining. Many times he is shown holding a scroll with the words he spoke, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.” (Matt. 3:2)
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The Orthodox Church remembers Saint John the Forerunner on six separate feast days, listed here in order of the church year which begins on September 1:
- September 23 – Conception of St. John the Forerunner
- October 12 – The Russian Orthodox Church observes the Transfer of the Right Hand of the Forerunner from Malta to Gatchina (1799).
- January 7 – The Commemoration of St. John the Forerunner (main feast day, immediately after Epiphany on January 6)
- February 24 – First and Second Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner
- May 25 – Third Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner
- June 24 – Birth of St. John the Forerunner
- August 29 – The Beheading of St. John the Forerunner
Also, St. John’s parents Zechariah and Elisabeth, are commemorated on September 5.
http://orthodoxwiki.org/John_the_Forerunner
July 13th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Hello, I was wondering where you got the information about Johns birthday. So I can check it against the information I have for him. In the synaxarium I read it has his birthday listed as the 7th of July.
July 13th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Never mind I see the link to it now. Thank you.