Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist
Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord
- Feast day
- January 7
- Lived
- 1st century
- Patronage
- Repentance, monastics, those preparing for baptism
Greater than any born of women, in the Lord's own words, Saint John the Forerunner stands beside Christ opposite the Theotokos in every Orthodox Deisis icon, interceding for the world.
Life
Son of the priest Zacharias and Elizabeth, born six months before Christ, John lived in the wilderness of Judaea from childhood, clothed in camel hair and eating locusts and wild honey. He preached a baptism of repentance at the Jordan and pointed out Christ to his own disciples: 'Behold the Lamb of God.'
He baptised the Lord at the Jordan, the event the Church keeps as Theophany on January 6, and was imprisoned and beheaded by Herod Antipas for condemning his unlawful marriage to Herodias.
Feasts
No saint has more commemorations in the Orthodox calendar: his Conception (September 23), Nativity (June 24), the Synaxis after Theophany (January 7), the Beheading, kept as a strict fast day (August 29), and three findings of his precious head (February 24 and May 25). Tuesday of every week is dedicated to him.
When Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist is commemorated
The feast falls on January 7 on the Revised Julian (New) calendar used by most Greek, Antiochian and Romanian parishes. Parishes that keep the Julian (Old) calendar — much of the Russian, Serbian and Georgian Churches, and Mount Athos — celebrate it on the civil date January 20, thirteen days later. You can switch between both reckonings anywhere on this site.
See the full liturgical day for January 7, 2027
That page gives the fasting rule in force, the Epistle and Gospel appointed for the day, and every other saint commemorated alongside Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist. To keep the feast, look for a parish in the USA, Canada or Australia directory, and read the Akathist hymns appointed for private prayer.
Other saints commemorated in January
- Anthony the GreatJanuary 17
- Athanasius the GreatJanuary 18
- Basil the GreatJanuary 1
- Gregory the TheologianJanuary 25
- Nino of GeorgiaJanuary 14
- Seraphim of SarovJanuary 2