saint

St John the Forerunner and Baptist

Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Πρόδρομος καὶ Βαπτιστής · Святой Иоанн Предтеча и Креститель

Holy Prophet and Forerunner of Christ, son of Zacharias the priest and Elizabeth; last of the Old Testament prophets and the one who baptized Jesus in the Jordan. Beheaded by Herod Antipas at the instigation of Herodias. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on seven separate feast days: 23 September (Conception), 7 January (Synaxis, immediately after Theophany — the principal feast), 24 February (First and Second Finding of his Head), 25 May (Third Finding of his Head), 24 June (Nativity), 29 August (Beheading), and 12 October (Transfer of his right hand, Russian Orthodox). In Orthodox liturgical usage the primary title is 'Forerunner' (Πρόδρομος, Предтеча), with 'Baptist' (Βαπτιστής, Креститель) as a second appellation.

Mentioned in 2 passages.