On June 7, Christians of the Eastern Rite celebrate the third Finding of the head of John the Baptist. The holiday is dedicated to John the Baptist and is popularly called Ivanov Day and Honey Dews..

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history of the holiday.

According to the gospel, John was the forerunner of Christ, who foretold the coming of the Savior.. He also baptized Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River..

The prophet denounced many sinners, among them King Herod, who married his brother's wife, Herodias. The latter could not forgive John for the humiliation, and persuaded her daughter Salome to ask Herod for the head of the prophet.

According to legend, Salome danced so beautifully at the festival that Herod could not refuse her and fulfilled her request - the prophet imprisoned in prison was executed. It is believed that Herodias forbade the burial of John's head with his body and hid it in her room.. Subsequently, the head was found and lost several times.

The first and second finding of the chapter is celebrated on March 9, and the third on June 7. It happened in 850. During the unrest caused by the exile of John Chrysostom, the head was transferred from Constantinople to Emessa, and then, due to the raids of the Saracens, to Comani, where during the period of iconoclasm it was hidden in the ground.

After the restoration of icon veneration by the Council of Constantinople in 842, Patriarch Ignatius, during a night prayer, received an indication of where the head of John the Baptist was located.. He conveyed this information to Emperor Michael III, who sent an embassy to Komany, where the head of the prophet was found in the indicated place.. Later, the head was transferred to Constantinople, where it was placed in the court church.. Part of the shrine is kept on Mount Athos.

What to do on a holiday.

It is believed that honey (thin) dew begins on this day - a sticky liquid on the leaves of plants, which is secreted by foliage and aphids.. It was believed that such dews, if they are eaten by livestock or a person passes through them, harm plants, children and animals..

But they were also credited with healing properties.. From Ivanov's Day, they began to harvest medicinal herbs and plants. After the dew had disappeared, the cattle were driven out into the field.

On this day, it is necessary to go to church, especially for men who bear the name Ivan. It is believed that they also need to take communion.

What not to do on a holiday.

Do not use sharp objects, as well as cut and saw something.

Can't serve food on a platter. It is believed that this is how the head of the prophet was presented to Salome.

Can't sing and dance.

Do not eat round red foods.

It is believed that one should not wear dark clothes, as well as walk barefoot in the dew..