John the Baptist is one of those saints who are especially revered in Orthodoxy. They speak of him as a close person of Christ. He predicted the appearance of the Messiah and the beginning of a new history of Orthodoxy. His life became an example for all Christians, in which good always defeated evil. His image is the image of a righteous life, humility and repentance, which should be inherent in every Christian. It is this way of life that will help you believe the Word of God and know God’s grace. Many Orthodox believers direct their prayers to John the Baptist the Baptist.
Who is John the Baptist
The Prophet John the Baptist was the son of the priest Zechariah (from the family of Aaron) and the righteous Elizabeth (from the family of King David). His parents lived near Hebron (in the Highlands), south of Jerusalem.
He was a relative of the Lord Jesus Christ on his mother's side and was born six months before the Lord. As Evangelist Luke narrates, the Archangel Gabriel, appearing to his father Zechariah in the temple, announced the birth of his son.
And so the pious spouses, deprived of the consolation of having children until old age, finally have a son, whom they asked for in prayers.
By the grace of God, he escaped death among the thousands of murdered infants in and around Bethlehem. Saint John grew up in the wild desert, preparing himself for great service through a strict life of fasting and prayer.
He wore rough clothes secured with a leather belt and ate wild honey and locusts (a genus of locust). He remained a desert dweller until the Lord called him at the age of thirty to preach to the Jewish people.
About the feast of the Cathedral of John the Baptist on January 20
In the Orthodox Church, the custom has been established on the next day of the great feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God to honor the memory of those saints who served this sacred event in history. Thus, the day after Epiphany, the Church honors the holy prophet John the Baptist, who served the Baptism of Christ by laying his hand on the head of the Savior. The word “cathedral” means a meeting of people who give honor and praise to the holy prophet and Forerunner, John the Baptist of the Lord. John the Baptist is a great prophet who completes the history of the Old Testament Church and opens the era of the New Testament. “We celebrate the Council of the Honest Forerunner above tradition, as I served the mystery of divine baptism” (Great Menaion of Chetia, collected by All-Russian Metropolitan Macarius). The Holy Prophet John testified to the coming to earth of the Only Begotten Son of God, who took on human flesh. John the Baptist was honored to baptize Him in the waters of the Jordan and testified to the mysterious Appearance of the Most Holy Trinity on the day of the Baptism of the Savior.
What do they pray to John the Baptist for?
Many people know about miraculous possibilities and therefore offer prayers to the Prophet John the Baptist. Such prayer gives strength and hope to the believer. It contains love and faith in the Lord.
It is this kind of prayer that leads to humility and repentance, which brings us closer to Divine forgiveness. By pronouncing her words, we invest enormous strength there and in return we find peace and long-awaited help.
This saint was known not only for his sermons, but also for dipping into water (the rite of baptism), which directs its action to cleanse not only the body, but also the soul from sins, and also grants repentance to a person.
This ritual is still present in Orthodoxy today. Every Orthodox Christian goes through it to get closer to the Lord and receive his protection. People often ask about how prayer to John the Baptist helps.
Often the prophet is approached with the following requests:
- relieve physical pain
- to gain your own repentance,
- understand your own thoughts,
- find inner harmony,
- assistance in business affairs,
- save the human race.
John the Baptist
Even before his birth, it became clear that this would be a special child, whose actions would play a very important role in the fate of humanity. He was born into a family of Orthodox elderly people. For a long time they had no children, but then the Lord looked at them and gave them a son, whom he ordered to name John. Even in infancy he managed to avoid death. Then King Herod ordered the death of all newborn boys in order to destroy competitors for the throne.
His parents hid him in a cave in the desert. Then, until he was 30 years old, he lived there and was constantly in prayer to the Lord. Then he came across people who were listening to a sermon about God and decided to join them. He began not only to preach, but also to conduct the ceremony of baptism (immersion in water).
The Baptist did not tolerate deception and wicked acts. Most often he spoke about King Herod. And he really didn't like it. He even gave the order to imprison the prophet. The king did not dare to execute John, because he was afraid of the Lord’s punishment. One day, for his birthday, the king gave a feast. A beautiful girl was dancing there. The king liked her so much that he promised to fulfill any of her wishes. The girl asked to bring her the head of John the Baptist. The king did not want to fall face down in front of his guests and therefore ordered the prophet's head to be cut off. This is how John’s earthly life ended as a martyr.
Also read: Prayer before the operation of a loved one to Saint Matrona
Prayer to John the Baptist to calm the soul
Life shocks and worries about loved ones often overwhelm a person. How to find peace in your soul? How to come to terms with losses? Prayer to John the Baptist helps to calm the soul.
“Baptist of Christ, preacher of repentance! Do not despise me, the repentant one, but together with the Hosts of Heaven, pray to the Lord for me, unworthy, despondent, weak and sad, fallen into many troubles, troubled by the stormy thoughts of my mind.
For I, the repository of evil deeds, do not stop my sinful habits, for my mind is nailed to earthly things.
What should I do, I don’t know who to turn to to save my soul? Only to you, Saint John, filled with grace, for I know that you, after the Mother of God, are before the Lord more than all those born: for you were honored to touch the head of King Christ, the Lamb of God who took upon Himself the sins of the world.
Pray to Him for my sinful soul, so that at least at the eleventh hour, I will bear a good burden and receive a reward with the last.
Truly, the Baptist of Christ, the revered Baptist, the last prophet, the first martyr by grace, mentor of fasters and hermits, teacher of purity and closest friend of Christ!
I pray to you, I turn to you: do not deprive me of your intercession, but raise me up, who have fallen into many sins; renew my soul with repentance, as with a second baptism, for you are the master of both: with baptism you wash away original sin, and with repentance you cleanse everyone from bad deeds. Cleanse me, defiled by sins, and encourage me to enter where nothing bad enters - into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen".
Second prayer
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, burdened by the stormy thoughts of my mind.
Because I am a den of evil deeds, with no end to sinful customs, 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 have been honored to touch the top of the King Christ, who takes away the sins of the world, the Lamb of God.
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.
Prayer to John the Baptist for healing
To gain health and well-being, prayer to John the Baptist for healing helps. Prayer gives the mood to revive the body’s strength and resources and gives faith in recovery. The saint will definitely help you recover from a serious illness and restore your health.
“Holy John the Forerunner and Baptist of Christ! This preacher of repentance, do not despise us who repent, but pray to the Lord Christ for us, unworthy slaves, sad, weak, fallen into many sins. We fear death, but we are not sick of our sins and we do not care about the Kingdom of Heaven: but do not despise us, the Baptist of Christ, honorable Forerunner, born in pain of all, mentor of fasters and hermits, teacher of purity and neighbor of Christ.
We pray to you, we resort to you: do not reject us who ask for your intercession, renew our souls with repentance, which is the second baptism: by your intercession before the Lord, ask for the cleansing of our sins. Unworthy lips cry out to you, and a humble soul prays, a contrite heart sighs from the depths: stretch out your most pure right hand and protect us from enemies visible and invisible.
Hey, Lord Jesus Christ! Through the prayers of St. John Thy Baptist, and even more so of Thy Most Pure Mother, our Lady Theotokos, save us, Thy sinful servants who repent of our sins. For Thou art the God of the repentant, and in Thee, the Savior, we place our hope, glorifying Thy Most Holy Name, with Thy Beginning Father, and with Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.”
About popular beliefs at the Council of John the Baptist
On January 20, believers attend morning church service. After this they had breakfast, and the leftovers and crumbs from the table were given to the cattle. Housewives on this day were engaged in needlework and sewing, and went to fetch water. The Cathedral of John the Baptist began the meat-eating period of weddings and festivities.
According to popular belief, on the morning of January 20 you need to drink a glass of Epiphany water on an empty stomach. This water removes illnesses from a person and removes migraines. The Cathedral of John the Baptist is considered a very successful day for a wedding.
