On August 29 in the Holy Orthodox Church we commemorate the beheading of the holy, honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.

Herod Antipas, son of the Herod who slew the young children in Bethlehem at the time of the Savior’s birth, ruled of Galilee when John the Baptist preached.  The evil Herod put away his lawful wife, the daughter of Prince Aretas, and took Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, to live with him while Philip was still alive.  John the Baptist stood up against this lawlessness and strongly denounced Herod, at which Herod threw him into prison and ordered him beheaded.  The event is recalled in today’s Orthros and Liturgy Gospel lections.  John’s disciples took the body of their teacher by night and buried it, but Herod tore out John’s tongue with a needle and then buried his head in an unclean place.  God quickly punished the evildoers.  Prince Aretas, to avenge his daughter’s honor, attacked Herod with his army and brought him to his knees.  As exiles, Herod and Herodias lived in need and debasement until the earth opened and swallowed them up. Salome, Herodias’ daughter, came to a bad end in the river Sikaris.  The Church commemorates the beheading today because a church that had been built over his grave in Sebastia by Emperor Constantine and Empress Helena was consecrated on this day.