On September 11, the Russian Orthodox Church commemorates the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the people for the coming of the Savior and baptized the Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan.
The beheading of John the Baptist is described in the Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 14:1-12) and Mark (Mark 6:14-29).
The ruler of Galilee, Herod Antipas, left his lawful spouse and began to live with Herodias, his brother's wife. Saint John openly rebuked him, saying, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." For this, the prophet was imprisoned. Herod was afraid to execute John, because he revered him as a righteous man and was afraid of popular anger, but Herodias was looking for an opportunity to deal with the accuser.
The opportunity presented itself during the feast on the occasion of Herod's birthday. The daughter of Herodias, Salome, pleased the ruler with her dance, and he vowed to fulfill her every wish. On the advice of her mother, the girl asked to bring her the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod was saddened, but for the sake of the oath given in front of the guests, he ordered the prophet to be executed. John's disciples took his body and buried it.
According to church tradition, Herodias abused the honest head of the Forerunner and ordered it to be hidden in an unclean place. However, Joanna, the pious wife of the royal steward Khuza, secretly took the shrine, placed it in a vessel and buried it on the Mount of Olives. Subsequently, the head of the prophet was found and became one of the great shrines of the Christian world.
The story of John the Baptist's martyrdom is a reminder of the spiritual dangers of self-will, vanity, intoxication, and rash promises. The prophet preferred death to silence and remained faithful to the truth of God to the end.
In memory of the beheading of the head of St. John the Baptist, the Church established a strict fast. This day is filled with sorrow for the violent death of the great prophet and at the same time testifies to the power of faith, courage and fidelity to the truth.