Christmas of the Forerunner of John: features of the holiday, history and interesting facts. Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist: description

Among Christian holidays, the Nativity of the Forerunner and the Baptist of the Lord John takes a special place. For believers from different countries, the biblical events associated with this saint are of great importance. The greatest number of memorable dates is dedicated to the prophet. This is the only saint whose Christmas is celebrated in the church calendar as a holiday. The shrines associated with the Baptist are kept not only in Catholic cathedrals and Orthodox churches, but even in a mosque. The Christmas of the Forerunner of John is widely celebrated in many countries and is an official day off.

Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist

The Christmas of the Forerunner of John is one of the most significant holidays of Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, the birth of the Forerunner and the Baptist of the Lord is celebrated on July 7 according to a new style (June 24 - old style).

John the Baptist is the son of priest Zachary and righteous Elizabeth, revered by the Orthodox Church.

Zechariah learned about the future birth of his son during the service in the temple, when he had a vision of an angel who announced the imminent appearance of the great Prophet and Forerunner of the Lord. The priest did not believe and asked for a sign. In proof and in punishment for his disbelief Zaharii was speechless until the birth of his son and could again speak only after he had written on the plaque the name of the naming of the child born.

John the Baptist preached about the need for repentance and was the forerunner, the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He baptized the people of Israel in the Jordan River and prepared people for the coming of the Messiah, his teaching. Jesus Christ himself was baptized in the Jordan by the prophet John.

history of the holiday

At present, the birth of John the Forerunner is celebrated in all Christian countries, in some, having the status of a state holiday.

The tradition to celebrate the birthday of John the Baptist originates in the first Christian communities. Already in the third century the birth of the Forerunner of John is widely celebrated in both Western and Eastern Christianity. Since the fourth century the date of birth of the Baptist is one of the official holidays of the Christian calendar.

Features of the holiday in Russia

In Russia, the Nativity of the Forerunner and the Baptist of the Lord John not only recalls the birth of the greatest prophet, but also intertwines with the pagan holiday of veneration of Ivan Kupala. On this day in Russia it was decided to pour water, jump over the fire, collect herbs. Especially tried to find and bring a fern into the house, it was believed that the plant would protect against evil spirits. Pagan customs were replaced by Christian traditions. But even in modern society, on the feast of the birth of John the Baptist, many people remember the ancient rituals of paganism.

The church condemns the conduct of any pagan rituals, especially those connected with divination, worship of the elements of nature and unbridled festivities. Many believers believe that the very name of the holiday of the Nativity of the Baptist of the Lord by the Day of Ivan Kupala offends the memory of the saint and brings back the human consciousness to the history of paganism with its sacrifices, worship of many gods, ignorance.

How to celebrate the birth of John the Forerunner in different countries

The Nativity of John the Baptist is one of the most popular holidays in Catholic Christianity, which is celebrated on June 24 and lasts all day, sometimes lasts at night. Torches, bonfires, and fireworks are lit. Believers with lit candles or torches go to the next chapel to pray. In many regions of Spain it is customary to burn old things, build a fire and jump through it. Such customs are explained by the closeness of the date of the holiday to the Day of the Summer Solstice.

On the island of Menorca, in honor of the birth of John the Baptist, a festival is organized, where horse races take place, in which representatives of all social classes and classes take part.

In France, Saint John the Baptist is especially revered, the holiday of his Christmas lasts for several days.

Orthodox traditions of the holiday

According to the Orthodox calendar, the Nativity of the Forerunner and the Baptist John coincides with the period of Petrov's fasting, so believers abstain from noisy festivities and a plentiful feast. The Holy Prophet grew up in the desert and led an ascetic life, eating only honey and acrid. Orthodox Christians, especially in pre-revolutionary Russia, tried to celebrate the birth of the prophet John the Baptist in a particularly strict fast.

In the temples there is a celebratory service, on which funeral and funeral prayers are not performed.

Believers with joy and repentance offer prayers at the Divine Liturgy at the Nativity of John the Baptist. The holiday not only allows Christians to remember the history of biblical events, but also calls for the purification from sins, recalls that the sacrament of confession is an indispensable condition on the way of the soul to God.

Prayer to John the Baptist

To pray to the holy prophet for help is necessary in the church or at home. The Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist can be visited in many Russian cities. There are troparion, kontakion, magnification and special prayer to John the Baptist. It is believed that the saint helps with headaches, diseases associated with the work of the brain. The prophet is prayed before confession, he helps in repentance and improves a person's ability to think clearly and objectively assess the situation.

Attach yourself to the ancient wonderworking icon of the Baptist Lord in the Ioanno-Predtechensky Monastery. There are also parts of the relics of the saint.

Praying with icons of the relics can be done in other churches, for example, in the church in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, in honor of St. Nicholas in Pyzhy.

Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist

In Russia, in honor of the Baptist and Forerunner of the Lord John, at all times many temples, chapels, monasteries were built. Among them there are real monuments of culture and art, in some you can touch unique shrines and ancient icons.

Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in St. Petersburg (Chesme Church) - an architectural monument of federal significance. The church building is light and graceful.

Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Presnia in Moscow was founded in 1685. At first the building of the temple was wooden, but in the beginning of the 18th century a stone structure was erected. The church has always been open to parishioners, even in the period of the USSR, thanks to which an amazing atmosphere and ancient icons were preserved. In the temple there is a unique image of John the Baptist "Angel in the Desert" of the 17th century, on which the saint has angel wings behind him. Specially for the church in 1686 was painted the icon of the Nativity of John the Baptist, which is especially revered by believers. The interior decorates the monumental painting of VM Vasnetsov, which was discovered after the myrtle of one of the frescos on the wall.

The incorrupt relics of the saint

The Baptist was executed by the order of King Herod by cutting off the head at the request of Queen Herodias and her daughter Salome. At present, according to most experts, the true head of John the Baptist is in the cathedral in France in the city of Amiens. A lot of pilgrims from different countries come to bow to the shrine. The head is stored under glass on a special silver dish. Above the left eyebrow is a hole, a trace from the dagger, which Herodias in a fit of anger pierced the severed head.

In France, the obverse part of the head is kept, the other half is in the mosque in Damascus.

Another important relic of Christian culture is the hand of John the Baptist. The right hand of the holy prophet is incorruptible and is kept in a monastery in Montenegro. According to the biblical story, St. John, having conducted the rite of baptism, laid his right hand on the head of Jesus Christ, which is why the relic is especially revered by Christians around the world.