On Christmas Day, St. John the Baptist reads prayers for solving various life situations.

What prayers do John the Baptist turn to the prophet at Christmas?

Every year the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist is celebrated by believers in the Orthodox Church on July 7. In 2022, the holiday fell on a weekday, Wednesday. It is important to visit church today, but if this is not possible due to work, then you should pray on your own at home.

On the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist, Orthodox Christians read prayers addressed to the prophet in various life situations. On this day it is customary to pray for:

solving family problems;
getting rid of migraines;
recovery from serious illnesses;
making the right fateful decision;
choosing the true path.

Troparion and Kontakion for the Nativity of John the Baptist

Troparion, tone 4

Prophet and Forerunner of the coming of Christ, we are worthy to praise you, we are perplexed by the love we honor you: the infertility of the one who gave birth and the silence of the father was resolved by your glorious and honest birth, and the incarnation of the Son of God is preached to the world.

Kontakion, tone 3

Before the unfruitfulness of this day, Christ gives birth to the Forerunner, and that is the fulfillment of every prophecy: Whom the prophets preached, placing their hand on Him in the Jordan, the prophet, preacher, and together with the Forerunner appeared of God’s Word.

PRAYER TO JOHN THE BAPTIST

Baptist of Christ, preacher of repentance, do not despise me who repents, but copulating with the heavenly ones, pray to the Lady for me, unworthy, sad, weak and sad, fallen into many troubles, troubled by the stormy thoughts of my mind. Because I am a den of evil deeds, I have no end to sinful customs, because my mind is nailed down by earthly things. What will I do? We don't know. And to whom shall I resort, that my soul may be saved? Only to you, Saint John, give the same name of grace, for you are before the Lord through the Mother of God greater than all those born, for you were honored to touch the top of the King Christ, who takes away the sins of the world, the Lamb of God. Pray to Him for my sinful soul, so that from now on, at the first tenth hour, I will bear a good burden and accept recompense with the last. To her, the Baptist of Christ, an honest Forerunner, an extreme Prophet, the first martyr in grace, a teacher of fasters and hermits, a teacher of purity and a close friend of Christ! I pray to you, I come running to you: do not reject me from your intercession, but raise me up, having fallen into many sins. Renew my soul with repentance, as with the second baptism, since you are the leader of both: with baptism you wash away the original sin, and with repentance you cleanse every bad deed. Cleanse me, defiled by sins, and bring me, even if nothing bad enters, into the Kingdom of Heaven.

First prayer

Baptist of Christ, honest Forerunner, extreme prophet, first martyr, mentor of fasters and hermits, teacher of purity and neighbor of Christ!

I pray to you, and when you come running, do not reject me from your intercession, do not forsake me, who have fallen through many sins; renew my soul with repentance, like a second baptism; Cleanse me, the sins of the defiled, and compel me to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, even if nothing bad enters. Amen.

Second prayer

Pray for my sinful soul, so that from now on, in the first ten hours, I will bear a good burden and accept recompense with the last.

To her, the Baptist of Christ, an honest Forerunner, an extreme Prophet, the first martyr in grace, a teacher of fasters and hermits, a teacher of purity and a close friend of Christ!

I pray to you, I come running to you: do not reject me from your intercession, but raise me up, cast down by many sins.

Renew my soul with repentance, as with the second baptism, since you are the ruler of both: with baptism wash away the original sin, and with repentance cleanse every bad deed. Cleanse me, defiled by sins, and force me to enter, even if nothing bad enters, into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

Elisha, tone 4

Even as an angel in the flesh, / and the captain of the testimonies of the prophets, glorious Elisha, / you have done wondrous miracles, prophesied, / by the haste of the Holy Spirit; / by the power of Elijah, having healed the watery nature ,/ destroy the devouring beasts,/ and cleanse Naaman,/ and the widow’s son Thou hast raised thou, // and grant grace and healing to all who honor thee.

Translation: Angel in the flesh and generally recognized as the leading prophet (2 Kings 2:15), glorious Elisha, you performed amazing miracles, O prophet, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, by the power of Elijah, rendering harmless the water in the spring (2 Kings 2:19-22), by beasts But you destroyed them by devouring (2 Kings 2:23-24), and you cleansed Naaman (2 Kings 5:14), and you raised up the son of a widow (2 Kings 4:32-35), therefore grant grace and healing to all who honor you.

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The life story of John the Baptist

John the Baptist is practically the same age as Jesus Christ. Since he baptized the Savior in the Jordan, he is otherwise called John the Baptist. The prophet was the son of the priest Zechariah and the righteous Elizabeth: the family lived near Hebron, south of Jerusalem.

John the Baptist lived for many years in the wild desert and was preparing for great service. When the prophet turned 30 years old, the Lord called him to preach to the Jewish people. One day, the Jews, together with John the Baptist, gathered on the banks of the Jordan for the rite of baptism. Among those present was Jesus Christ. The baptism of the Savior completed and immortalized the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist.

One of the prophet’s callings was to clothe the sins of both commoners and kings. John the Baptist was sent to prison and then beheaded for denouncing King Herod Antipas. The prophet learned that he was cohabiting with his brother’s wife, Herodias. While John the Baptist was in prison, the king celebrated his name day, gathering noble guests at the holiday. Among them was Salome, the daughter of Herodias, and therefore the niece of the king. She gave Herod her dance and conquered everyone present with it. Herod decided to give Salome a gift for him, and told her to choose a gift for herself. At the prompting of Herodias, Salome wished that the head of the prophet in prison be brought to her on a saucer, and her wish was fulfilled. Salome gave the head to her mother, who first abused it and then threw it into the dirtiest place. The headless body of John the Baptist was buried by his disciples in Sebaste.

Shrines

Hand of John the Baptist

As the legend tells, Evangelist Luke, going around different cities and villages preaching Christ, took from Sebaste to Antioch a particle of the relics of the great prophet - his right hand. In 959, when the Muslims captured Antioch (under Emperor Constantine the Porphyrogenitus), the deacon transferred the hand of the Forerunner from Antioch to Chalcedon, from where it was transported to Constantinople, where it was kept until the conquest of this city by the Turks. The shrine, which was kept in Russia (St. Petersburg and Gatchina) from 1799 to 1918 and was the property of the Russian Imperial family, due to revolutionary upheavals, remained in Serbia and Montenegro for the last half century, considered lost and was found only in 1993 (For more details, see. article “The Hand of John the Baptist”).

Head of John the Baptist

The holy head of John the Baptist was found by the pious Joanna and buried in a vessel on the Mount of Olives. Later, one pious ascetic, while digging a ditch for the foundation of a temple, found this treasure and kept it with himself, and before his death, fearing the desecration of the shrine by unbelievers, he hid it in the ground in the same place where he found it. During the reign of Constantine the Great, two monks came to Jerusalem to venerate the Holy Sepulcher, and John the Baptist appeared to one of them and pointed out where his head was buried. From that time on, Christians began to celebrate the First Finding of the Head of John the Baptist (For further history of the shrine, see the article “The Head of John the Baptist”).

Prohibitions on the Nativity of John the Baptist

On the eve of the Nativity of John the Baptist, an all-night vigil is held in Orthodox churches, stichera and canons are read, and the name of the prophet is glorified. Believers pray, bless water, healing herbs and flowers. On a holiday you cannot:

eat meat and various meat products, drink milk;
engage in heavy physical work;
get angry and show other negative emotions;
utter obscene words;
humiliate, insult others;
take something out of the house;
pick something up from the ground;
cut, cut, sew;
have fun, arrange noisy feasts.

Objects found on the ground do not lead to poverty, especially coins. If it rains on a holiday, it means the harvest will be good. If the sky is starry, then in the fall there will be a lot of mushrooms. To stay beautiful and young for many years, wash your face with morning dew.

Daniel and the three youths: Ananias, Azariah and Mishael, voice 2

The great faith of correction:/ in the source of the flame, as on the water of rest,/ the three holy children rejoiced,/ and the prophet Daniel, the lion shepherd, as if he appeared to the sheep.// Those they say Itvami, Christ God, save our souls.

Translation: Great are the accomplishments of faith! In the source of the flame, as on the water of rest, the three holy youths rejoiced. And the prophet Daniel appeared to those who herd lions like sheep. Through their prayers, Christ God, save our souls!

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Elijah, voice 4

Audio:

1:27

In the flesh, the Angel,/ the foundation of the prophets,/ the second Forerunner of the coming of Christ, the glorious Elijah,/ sending grace to Elisha from above,/ to drive away illnesses/ and cleanse lepers,// also to those who worship him Reads healing.

Translation: An Angel in the flesh, the foundation of the prophets, the second Forerunner of the coming of Christ, the glorious Elijah, who from above sent Elisha the grace to drive away illnesses and cleanse lepers, and therefore exudes healing to those who worship him.

Greatness

We magnify you,/ holy, glorious prophet of God Elijah,/ and honor you, going to Heaven/ in a chariot of fire,// your glorious ascent.

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Joel, voice 2

Foretold of God's coming in the flesh/ and the influx of the Holy Spirit and the coming Judgment,/ prophesied to Joel:/ save with your prayers// those who honor you from all sorrows.

Translation: Prophet Joel, who foresaw God's coming in the flesh and the descent of the Holy Spirit and the coming Judgment, save through your prayers those who worship you from all sorrows.

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To Moses the Seer of God, voice 2

You, the prophet Moses, ascended to the heights of virtues;/ and for this reason you were deemed worthy to see the glory of God./ The tablets of the gracious Law were received,/ and you carried the marks of grace within yourself,/ and prophesied You were an honest praise, // and a great sacrament of piety.

Translation: You, Prophet Moses, have ascended to the heights of virtue, and therefore you have been worthy to see the glory of God. You received the blessed tablets of the Law and, bearing within yourself the image of grace, you were the sacred glory of the prophets and the great secret of piety.

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Zechariah, tone 4

He was clothed with the garments of the priesthood, O wisdom, / according to the law of God, you offered burnt offerings in a sacred manner, Zechariah, / and you were a lamp and a spectator of secret things, / carrying signs in you of grace. indeed, to all things, / and was killed with the sword in the temple of God, / the prophet of Christ, pray with the Forerunner, // that our souls may be saved.

Translation: Endowed with the priesthood, wise, according to the law of God, you, worthy of holiness, offered burnt offerings acceptable to God, Zechariah, and were a lamp and spectator of the sacraments, clearly bearing within yourself the signs of grace, all-wise, and were killed with the sword in the temple of God, Christ's prophet, with the Forerunner pray for the salvation of our souls.

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Samuel, tone 5

Begged from your mother, the same name is the gift of God, / from God the title was granted in infancy, / honorable prophet Samuel, / kindly shepherded the disobedient people, / and the organizer who appeared as king, / and about us, Those who faithfully honor you, pray to the True God, // may he save souls our.

Translation: You appeared through the prayers of your mother, bearing the name “God heard”, you were worthy of the calling of the Lord in infancy, revered prophet Samuel, you shepherded the rebellious people well and became the founder of the kingdom (of Israel), and for us, who honor you with faith, pray to the True One God save our souls.

See TROPARION, PROPHET

Ezekiel, voice 2

Prophet of God Ezekiel, / foreseeing the gates closed by the Spirit / and the Carpenter, in the exodus of these, the only one who spoke to God, / Him we pray, we pray, / that He may open the door of His mercy / / and save the souls of those who piously sing in your memory.

Translation: The Prophet of God Ezekiel, who foresaw the gates closed by the Spirit and who took upon himself the flesh coming out of them (Ezekiel 44:2), who prophesied the One God, pray to Him, we pray, that He may open the door of His mercy and save the souls of those who piously sing thy memory.

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