On May 25, Christians of the Eastern rite celebrate the third acquisition of the head of John the Baptist. This holiday is dedicated to John the Baptist and the people often call it Ivanov Day or Honey dews.

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History of the holiday.

By biblical legend, John was the predecessor of Jesus Christ, who predicted the coming of the Savior. He baptized him in the waters of the Jordan River.

John also exposed many sinners, among whom was King Herod, who married his brother's wife, Herodiade. It was she who could not forgive the Prophet to this humiliation, and persuaded her daughter Solomia to ask Horod the head of the Prophet.

Solomia danced so well at the holiday that King Herod could not refuse her. Therefore, the prisoner prophet was condemned to execution. According to legend, the Herodiad forbade to hide the head of John with his body and kept her in her room. Then the head was found and lost several times.

February 24 celebrates the first and second acquisition of the chapter, and the third - precisely on May 25. This happened in 850. Due to the riots that were caused by the reference of John Chrysostom, the head was first transferred from Constantinople to Emes, and then because of the raids of Saracens-to mosquitoes, where they hid in the ground during the period of iconocratic..

In 842, when the Council of Constantinople restored icon veneration, Patriarch Ignatius received a sign during a night prayer where to look for the head of the Prophet.

He transferred this information to Emperor Mikhail III. He sent the embassy to the mosquitoes, where in the indicated place the head of John the Baptist was found. Later they moved his head to Constantinople, where they put in the court church. Part of the shrine is stored on Athos.

What can not be done on this day.

In ancient times, the people adhered to certain restrictions on the holiday. So, on the day of gaining the head of John the Baptist, it was forbidden to eat round red products.

You can also not use sharp objects, cut and saw something.

On this day, it was forbidden to swear, faded, gossip, to wish evil to others.

You can not serve treats on the dish on the holiday. It is believed that this is how the head of the prophet was presented by straw.

On this day it was forbidden to arrange weddings and loud festivities.