Troparion

Commemoration of the righteousness with praise and you enough is thy Lord’s testimony, Forerunner. You showed that you really prophets and more honest than that and baptized in the one preached waters you worthy. Therefore, when you really need to, enjoying good and those in hell have promised him that God was manifest in the flesh, the one who raised the sin of the world and gave us new great mercy.

St. John the Baptist was born in the village of Ain Karem, a short distance from Jerusalem, the son of Elizabeth, cousin of the Virgin, and the Jewish priest Zechariah. Saint John was born a few months before Jesus Christ, whom he and paved the way. Retired young in the wilderness, fasting and spending sharply in unsurpassed prayer, St. John will come in the world, in the Jordan, at the age of 30, the age at which man is considered mature and capable of preaching.

Saint John was worthy of God to baptize with water at begotten son, Jesus Christ, the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit man and fire. It is the culmination of his life sacred moment in which the Son of God, Creator of all, and bowed his head in his hand.

With specific courage of those who spare no truth to anything and anyone he personally and publicly rebuked the Tetrarch Herod Antipas, who had married the former wife of his half-brother. Herodias cunning and pride led to imprisonment in the fortress of St. John Maherus – Machaerus in Perea today their place in Jordan.

A large feast with fatty foods with wines and aromatic, with dances and other pleasures, Salome, daughter of Herodias, won the heart of the king, who said that he would give anything will ask, up to half the kingdom to . Girl mindlessly asked her who her mother what and why of envy and hatred, asked the Head of John the Baptist. Fool king listened to the girl, ordering Beheading of Saint in prison. St. John head was brought on a platter (tray) and given to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

Because he feared St. John the Baptist could be raised if the body had been buried with the head, Herod had given them ignorant than just the body of the saint. Saint’s body was taken by his pupils and resulted in Sebaste town somewhere in Cisiordnia today, and buried him there.

It is believed that, later, around 360, pagan Roman emperor Julian the Apostate would have burned remains of St. John the Baptist. Body of the saint would not have remained unburned than just an arm and a finger.

The relics of John the Baptist, went through many adventures along the two thousand years.

The right hand of St. John the Baptist

According to tradition, the Lord’s Forerunner was buried in the city of Sebaste in Samaria. St. Luke the Evangelist John’s body wanting to move here in Antioch, failed to obtain and move only the right hand of the saint.

Historians Theodore and Rufinus mentions that the tomb was desecrated St. John the Baptist in 362, during Emperor Julian the Apostate, some relics were burned. The other part was taken in Jerusalem, then in Alexandria, where, on 27 May 395, was placed in the church that bears his name.

Chronicle of John Skylitzes (historic century Byzantine XI) states that the right hand of St. John the Baptist was moved to 956 from Antioch to Constantinople by Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (913-959), to be filed in one Grand Palace of the chapels, more specifically, in the Virgin church Peribleptos.

In the late twelfth century, Anthony of Novgorod, Russian archbishop learned pilgrimage to Constantinople, mentions in his writings, everything in this church treasure, and recalling the right hand of St. John the Baptist.

According to Du Cange, in 1263, Othon of CICONIA attest the presence of bits of the right hand of St. John the Citeaux Abbey in France. Othon assured his refuge Baudouin II, Latin emperor of Constantinople, in 1261. In exchange for money, the king offered him bits of its holy relics.

From 1404 dates testimony of a Spanish ambassador, Clavijo, proving that, holy hand, is still in the church of Constantinople Virgin Peribleptos. After the fall of Constantinople (1453), St. John the Baptist hand, along with other relics were seized by the Turks and kept in the imperial treasury.

In some cases fiscal Turkish kept in the archives of Topkapı and the Turkish Ministry is recalled that in 1484 the hand of St. John was sent Order of Hospitallers of Rhodes, present on the island, during the first quarter of the XIVth century by Sultan Bayezid II (1481-1512) in order to win the goodwill. They took her to the island of Malta, where they established.

At 1799, followed the sacred island of Malta transfer hand in Gatchina (Russia). The move was due to the fact that Russian Emperor Paul I (1796-1801) became Grand Master of the Order of Malta but also the threat of Napoleon’s war. The event is mentioned in Russian sinaxarele on the 12th of October. 1799 holy relics belonged countries Russia, but have been out of the country by Maria Feodorovna in 1917 to avoid the fury of an anti-Christian Bolsheviks. From that moment, the right hand of John the Baptist was kept in Germany, Yugoslavia and currently in Cetinje Monastery church in Montenegro:

Right-hand-John-Baptist-monastery-Cetinje

It seems, however, that part of St. John the hand offered by Sultan Baizid II Order of Hospitallers, came back into the hands of the Ottomans in the late sixteenth century. This is the same currently in Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

It is surprising to find holy relics in possession of a sultan. But the place they occupy St. John the Baptist in the Islamic religion allows, in a certain sense, we explain this fact. In the Qur’an, St. John the Baptist is called Yahya, Prophet preceding that ‘Isa (Jesus).

The relics, as we can see today, are protected by a medieval ouches Western-style metal, which re-creates the form of an arm in a realistic manner. Ouches This is undoubtedly worked in a Venetian workshop. We can see the seals in ouches two silver Maltese cross representing the Venetian lion from the sixteenth century, the era in which the Knights Hospitaller Order of Malta became.

Finger positions is known. It is a gesture of blessing that we meet in Byzantine art and as a gesture by which Saint John appoints Christ as the “Lamb of God”. Ouches has three inscriptions. First, around the wrist: “The hand of John the Baptist.” The second, located on the index finger, refers to the preaching of St. John which depict Christ as the Messiah: “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The third, located in the elbow, mentions the name of an unknown monk: “A prayer of offering God’s servant Daniel”.
1799 holy relics belonged countries Russia, but have been out of the country by Maria Feodorovna in 1917 to protect them from the fury of anti-Christian Bolsheviks. Since then, the right hand of John the Baptist was kept in Germany, Yugoslavia and Montenegro.

Also bits in the right hand of St. John the longer the Dionysiou monastery on Mount Athos (arm and right hand) in a gold frame given by Neagoe Basarab (in exchange for relics of St Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople)

Right-hand-John-the-Baptist

and the Coptic monastery of St. Macarius the Great Sketis, Egypt. Epiphany, when making holy water, instead of Holy Cross of Mount Athos parents take St. John and sticks his hand in spring water. Wonder not fail to appear: Holy hand opens and closes one and three times, there will be peace and prosperity in Greece.

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According to Christian tradition, St. Luke the Evangelist, reaching the city of Sebaste, where they say he was buried the body of John the Baptist, took the right hand of the prophet there, brought it in his city, to Antioch, where by she s they have committed many miracles, including what was the dragon. It is said that a dragon had its nest around the city of Antioch. On this dragon, pagan people there considered him to be God and revere the sacrifices all these years; and he brought his sacrifice was a man. Dragon crawling out of the nest, and showing the terrifying sight, helmet loud, take sacrifice and tear with their teeth. And, passing the time, came the turn of one of the Christians to give his daughter to the dragon. Therefore, the girl’s father was chosen as sacrifice asked of God and St. John the Baptist, to deliver her daughter from the bitter death. And i was enlightened mind to do this: asked to venerate the holy hand of Saint John; and while kissing the hand he broke teeth, in secret, the thumb of the hand of the saint; and acquiring what he wanted, he walked out of the church. And when he arrived it was the day of sacrifice and gathered all the people, went and the girl’s father leading his daughter. And approaching the dragon helmet and waited sacrifice mouth, throat and threw holy finger in the Forerunner. And with it, the dragon died. Father was back home with his daughter alive, telling her wonderful deliverance. People and the crowd, marveling at this miracle, thanked God and Saint John, building a big church dedicated to Saint.

Cape St. John the Baptist

Cape St. John the Baptist is one of the most precious relics of Holy Church, being lost and found several times. In calendar, the Church ordained to feast three wonderful finding Cape Saint, namely on 24 February when we find written, The First and Second Finding of the Head of Saint John the Baptist, and May 25, when it makes remembrance Third Finding of the Head of Saint John the Baptist.

“The head of John the Forerunner, hidden in clay pot art converted, they saw the creature emerging from the bosom of the earth; that the healing springs and rivers. For waters washed head of him that now covers waters heights of the top and springs people godly forgiveness: So this one is for the truth upped him happy and get finding it joyfully commemorated, he asks Christ bestow world great mercy “(Menaion February).

Raphael from February 24 says Herodias taking Cape St. John, poked with a needle big language, which so often showed her sins. St. John the Baptist’s head was buried in his backyard Herodias, the deep, underground, somewhere “hidden and unfair”.

Ioana only knew about this woman’s Huza, economic Herod, mentioned in Luke’s Gospel: “John’s wife Huza, Herod’s steward” (Luke 8: 3). About this we are told that the Apostles serving her belongings, while they preached in every city. According to Christian tradition the Holy Places, it is believed that St. John dug up the courtyard of Cape St. John the Baptist Herodias and buried him in Jerusalem on Mount Eleanor – Mount Ascension, in a clay pot. Here is reminiscent of the Finding of the Head First St., place that today rises Russian monastery St. John the Baptist.

First Finding of the Head of Saint John the Baptist

Long after this worthy Innocent, igniting towards the monastic life, went to the Holy Land. Mount Eleanor arrived, he build here is a humble cell. But when he wanted to dig a trench to lay the foundation of small churches, he shook over priceless treasure: Head of Saint John the Baptist. The athlete wanted to Cape St. in church. But when you close the passage to the eternal, to find and not be defiled by pagans who were multiplied in the area, he took him and again it hidden in the ground, in the same place.

Second Finding of the Head of Saint John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist’s head was kept buried on the Mount of Ascension until the reign of Saints Constantine and Helen. At the time of Saints, two monks from the Eastern ascetics came to worship at the Holy Places. One of them was show them dream of Saint John, who was found with respect to the head or the Spirit. Not believing neither of the two, St. John received has shown once again the two, a few days away and said to them: “All unbelief and idleness discarding it, do what I have commanded you.”

They say the two then took Cape Saint and put him in a camel leather bag, carrying it with them wherever they travel. Befriending a merchant potter about in Emesa, in Syria, they gave the man bag, to carry it a mile. Taking the bag, Saint John was shown to him, telling him: “Leaving on trips tai, flee overtake them with this bag, which you have in your hands.” She wanted a saint of unbelief monks that from the beginning because of the idleness of the way they entrusting the Holy Relics of an unknown.

Much has been honest and loved by Cape St. this potter of Emesa, his whole house is blessed saint. At his death, he took the head of the saint and it was placed in a coffin sealed, whom entrusted, later, his sister, whom he said do not walk to it so that St. John himself will not be willing to do so. So many generations have inherited and preserved coffin with relics.

Eventually, Cape St. reached a monk named Eustatie, resident in a cave near Emesa. Although it was not clean life, and learning Unfortunately wrong with the world, many miracles were done by the saint’s relics. Monk hiding all the priceless treasure, saying that for all his prayers are miracles. Seeing bad people monk life, they begged the bishop to banish him from her. May Eustatie asked one days respite, to leave alone. At night, he buried his head in the Holy land, to get it another time.

Third Finding of the Head of Saint John the Baptist

Immediately after his departure, some monks sat down with holy life in his cave. Near the cave it will build over time a monastery. Archimandrite Marcel is the one that found Cape Saint, he confessed: “Blessed is the Lord Jesus Christ, that I was worthy to me, Marcel, his servant, to be seer’s vision of the face, which I did in 18 days of the month February in the middle week of Lent 40 days, discovering sleep at night, for I have seen all our monastery gates open. So I was afraid and I seemed to close them out. Then again I saw a river passing through the monastery gate, and I wonder where that comes plenty of water. While thinking about this, I heard the voice of many bands, coming towards us from the east, with great sound and each band was particularly mouth and cried, “Behold, says St. John, the Baptist Christ.”

Saint Simeon Metaphrastes in the Life of Saint Matrona, also notes about Finding a reverend Head forerunner Before he saying “Marcel, Gennady and Chiriac went to the bishop and said to Uran (Bishop Emesa in time), the about a miracle of a cave. Bishop, knowing that is a great thing, took his clergy and went to the place, in the cave that had once lived Eustatie, heretic. And making prayer the bishop ordered that the place to dig the ground. There he found St. John’s head.

In the year 453, Bishop of Emesa Uran will take the honorable head of St John and it will sit in the great church of the city Emesa, Syria.

Cape St. John the Baptist – Comani, Constantinople, Amiens

In time of sad remembrance of iconoclasm, when iconele were persecuted, Cape St. John was buried in Comani where the body was buried and St. John Chrysostom. In the city Comani, Saint Head of State until the reign of Emperor Michael, the son of Theophilus and his mother Theodora, the empress, who have achieved true faith in the days kingdom which, by divine creature, again was within the Holy Head of Saint John.

Hence, Cape St. will be led by the Holy Patriarch in Constantinople Ignatius, in the year 860, in the reign of Emperor Michael. In the city of Constantinople, St. Cap was placed in the Church of St. John in the Edomon place too beautiful, built by royal ordinance.

In 1204, the Crusades, the Crusaders will take some of Cape St. John the Baptist, at that time still in Constantinople, and we will go to France, where he will and sit in a church in Amiens (today they located in the Cathedral of Amiens).

Another tradition related to Cape St. Ioar is saying that it had been rescued and taken to Alexandria, in Egypt and later in Constantinople in Turkey, where he was taken in the province of Poitou in France by King Franconian Pippin III (715-768).

The relics of St. John the Baptist in Russia

In June 2006, for a two-week period, the right hand of St. John the Baptist was returned to Russia. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims worshiped the holy relics in the Cathedral dedicated to Christ the Saviour in Moscow. After Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, holy relics were exposed for veneration in Yekaterinburg, Rostov, Minsk, St. Petersburg and Kiev (Ukraine).

Then Vladimir Mastukov, a pensioner no longer be able to use your feet following a stroke whom suffered five years ago, it was also to kiss the relics of Saint, who were in a coffin gilded. Only a few moments, he was stunned to discover that regained mobility, and even managed to get out of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior without using his crutches. Eyewitnesses have reported that they could hear “I felt my body was lit. Thank you Lord! “.

When they were flown in an armored coffin in Russia, the relics have caused a religious fervor. Thousands of people stood in line even 11:00 in order to get in front of relics. Local correspondents of Russian newspapers have reported that income parents with small children, old people who “turns sharing the queue” to be able to reach the cathedral. Neither fatigue nor changing weather failed to deter the faithful who were waiting patiently for their turn. Some people have told reporters they do not come to the scene were scattered even when it triggered a storm, even sabatoarea Trinity. They note that were wet to the skin, but not left and not the sick one. Cathedral hovers around a great atmosphere, calm and quiet, saying authorities have not recorded – despite the crowds – no problems and no act of hooliganism.

“I felt I had to get here. I can not describe in words what I felt when I got in front of holy relics. Anyway, once we have reached, I knew my life would change. Mine and those close to me. Now I think everything will be much easier, I feel protected, “said Vadim Marushenko the Siberian city of Omsk, one of the faithful who had come to the relics.

On 16 July the relics were returned to Montenegro.