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August, 29th A religious feast that goes back centuries, for today is the liturgical commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
It is almost as old as that commemorating his birth, which is one of the oldest feasts, if not the oldest, introduced into both the Eastern and Western liturgies to honour a Saint.
Traditional accounts.
According to the Synoptic Gospel, Herod, who was tetrarc, or sub-king, of Galilee under the Roman Empire, had imprisoned John the Baptist because he reproved Herod for divorcing his wife, (Phasaelis) and unlawfully taking Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip. On Herod’s birthday, Herodias’s daughter (whom Josephus identifies as Salome ) danced a seductively before the king and his guests.
Her dancing pleased Herod so much that in his drunkenness he promised to give her anything she desired, up to half of his kingdom. When the daughter asked her mother what she should request, in her revenge her mother told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
Although Herod was appalled by the request, he reluctantly agreed and had John executed in the prison.
The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus also relates, that Herod killed John, stating that he did so, as he felt that the great influence John had over the people might put him into power and he may have an inclination to raise a rebellion, as the people seemed at the time to do anything for him. So Herod, thought it best to put him to death.” He further states that many of the Jews believed that the military disaster that fell upon Herod at the hands of Areta, his father-in-law ( Phasaelis’ father), was God’s punishment for his unrighteous behaviour.
None of the sources gives an exact date as to when he was beheaded, which was probably in the years 28-29 AD, after imprisoning John the Baptist in 27 AD at the behest of Herodias his brother’s wife whom he took to be his mistress and according to Josephus, the death took place at the fortress of Machaerus.
Zakynthos.
Today many churches that have been built in honour of Saint John are open today for celebration. One of the most popular is the monastery of St. John in Lagκada.
The complex includes a circular defence tower built on a rock top to function as a watch tower. The church within the complex is decorated with works of art from the 17th and 18th Century. It’s also worth noting that Saint John was once the Patron Saint of Zakynthos, therefore churches in his honour are numerous around the island.
Source:- public domain.
