PREDICĂ LA SĂRBĂTOAREA „TĂIEREA CAPULUI SFÂNTULUI IOAN BOTEZĂTORUL”
SERMON ON THE FEAST OF BEHEADING OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Summary/Abstract: The preaching of John the Baptist was of short duration. Having prepared people to receive the Saviour, he ended his life with a martyr’s death. Soon after the baptism of the Lord, John was put in prison by the Galilean King Herod. John upbraided King Herod because he had married his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias, even though his brother was still alive. Herodias became embittered against for this and wanted Herod to kill him. About a year passed after the Forerunner’s imprisonment, when Herod celebrating his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers, and officers, and a thousand leading men of Galilee. Salome, the daughter of Herodias and stepdaughter of Herod, also came to this banquet. She danced for Herod, which pleased him and his guests. Herod sent a soldier to the prison to cut off the head of John. The soldier fulfilled the order of the king, brought the head of John the Baptist on a platter and gave it to Salome, and Salome gave it to her mother Herod . The day of the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist is commemorated by the Holy Orthodox Church on the 29th of August and is called the Beheading of John the Baptist. The Holy Church teaches that St. John the Forerunner is the greatest of all saints after the Mother of God.

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