The Beheading of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John — August 29 / September 11 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 29 according to the Julian Calendar (September 11 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Beheading of the Holy, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.

Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, cast John the Baptist into prison. The holy Prophet had openly denounced Herod for putting away his lawful wife, the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia, and for living unlawfully with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip (Luke 3:19–20).

On his birthday Herod prepared a banquet for his nobles, elders, and captains. Salome, the daughter of Herodias, danced before the guests and greatly pleased Herod. The enchanted ruler swore an oath to the girl that he would grant her whatever she asked, even up to half of his kingdom. At the prompting of her wicked mother Herodias, the shameless dancer demanded the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod was grieved: he feared the wrath of God for killing the Prophet, to whom he himself had once listened, and he feared the people, who loved the Forerunner of the Lord. Yet he would not break the oath he had so thoughtlessly sworn before his guests, and he ordered that the Baptist be beheaded in the prison and his head brought to Salome. According to tradition, even after death the mouth of the Prophet opened and once more spoke: “Herod, you must not have your brother Philip’s wife.” Salome carried the platter to her mother. The enraged Herodias pierced the Prophet’s tongue with a needle and buried the holy head in an unclean place. But the pious Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, dug up the holy relic, placed it in a clay vessel, and buried it on the Mount of Olives, on one of Herod’s estates. That same night the disciples of John the Baptist committed his holy body to the earth in Sebaste, where the crime had been carried out. After the murder of Saint John, Herod continued to rule for some time. From the Gospel we know that Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, sent Jesus Christ to him in chains, and that Herod and his men mocked Him (Luke 23:7–12).

The judgment of God fell upon Herod, Herodias, and Salome during their earthly lives. In winter, as Salome was crossing the River Sikoris, the ice broke beneath her and she fell through. The ice gripped her in such a way that her body hung in the water while her head remained above the surface. She hung there until the sharp ice severed her neck. Her body was never found, but her head, like that of Saint John the Baptist before, was brought to Herod and Herodias. Aretas, king of Arabia, marched against Herod to avenge the dishonour done to his daughter, and Herod was defeated. The enraged emperor Gaius Caligula (37–41) seized him and exiled him together with Herodias, first to Gaul and then to Spain, where the earth suddenly opened and swallowed them.