Nativity of John the Baptist (07/07)

The Nativity of the honest glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John – is one of the great Christian holidays, which is celebrated by the entire Orthodox world on July 7, new style. On this day, believers remember how a future prophet was born into the family of the Jewish priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth, who will predict the coming of the Messiah — Jesus Christ, and then baptize him in the waters of the Jordan River.

John's childhood years are known only from the story of the evangelist Luke. John was the son of the priest Zechariah (from the family of Aaron) and the righteous Elizabeth (from the family of King David) — an elderly barren couple. As the evangelist Luke narrates, the Archangel Gabriel, appearing to his father Zechariah in the Temple, announced the birth of his son, saying «many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord; He will not drink wine or strong drink, and the Holy Spirit will be filled from his mother’s womb» (Luke 1:13-17). Zechariah expressed no confidence in the angel, and for this he punished him with muteness.

After the Virgin Mary learned that her relative Elizabeth was pregnant, she came to visit her and «when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb surged; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit» (Luke 1:41). Thus, John predicted the messiah to his mother while still in the womb.

According to the Gospel, the birth occurred six months before Jesus, his relative. John's father was still mute, and when Elizabeth wished to give her son the name John, indicated by an angel, unconventional for her family («Yahweh (God) had mercy»), the relatives demanded that the father confirm him in writing.

He demanded the board and wrote: «John his name». And everyone was surprised. And immediately his mouth and his tongue were resolved, and he began to speak, blessing God. And there was fear on all those who lived around them; and they told about all this throughout the mountainous country of Judah. All who heard it put it on their hearts and said, What will this child be? And the hand of the Lord was with him. (Luke 1:63-66)

The Gospel mentions the subsequent years of John's childhood only briefly; it only tells that he was in the deserts until the day of his appearance to Israel« (Luke 1:80), that is, until a fairly mature age. It is also mentioned that John's father, Zechariah, was killed « between the temple and the altar» by Herod's servants (Matthew 23:35).

The Catholic Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist — on June 24.

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