On March 9, Christians of the Eastern Rite celebrate the first and second Finding of the head of John the Baptist. This holiday is dedicated to the prophet John the Baptist, who predicted the coming of the Savior and baptized him in the waters of the Jordan River.

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history of the holiday.

John led a godly life and reproved sinners. Among them was King Herod, who married his brother's wife Herodias.. She could not forgive the humiliation of the prophet and persuaded her daughter, Salome, to ask Herod to execute the prophet.

According to legend, Salome danced so beautifully at the feast that Herod could not refuse her.. He ordered to cut off John's head, which was brought to Salome on a platter.

It is believed that Herodias did not allow the burial of the head of the prophet along with his body.. She was hidden in the palace, from where a pious maid took her head out and buried it in a clay pot on the Mount of Olives.. Years later, the nobleman Innokenty decided to build a church on that place.. While digging a ditch for the foundation, he discovered a jug with a relic.

Innocent carefully kept the head of John, but before his death, fearing that it would be lost again, he hid it in his church, which then fell into disrepair and collapsed..

The second time the head of the prophet was found by two pilgrim monks who, during the reign of Constantine the Great, came to bow to the Holy Sepulcher. John the Baptist appeared to one of them and pointed out the place where the head of. The monks took it with them and put the relic in a bag made of camel hair, but, showing laziness, gave the relic to a potter from the Syrian city of Emessa who they met to carry the relic..

According to legend, the saint appeared to the potter and ordered him to keep the relic. He carefully guarded her all his life, lit a lamp every day and prayed. Before his death, the potter, at the behest of John the Baptist, placed the head in a water-bearing vessel, sealed it and gave it to his sister. Later, the relic ended up with an Arian priest, who, with the help of the healings emanating from it, supported the authority of the Arian creed.. When his deceit was revealed, he hid the head in a cave near the city of Emessa.. Later, a monastery arose above the cave, and in 452 John, who, according to legend, appeared to the archimandrite of the monastery, pointed to the place where his head was hidden.. She was found and transferred to Constantinople.

What to do on a holiday.

On this day, believers attend church and pray to John. It is believed that men who bear the name Ivan must visit the temple, they must take communion.

On a holiday you can not dance and have fun. It is also forbidden to cut round objects, use a knife and other sharp objects..