Feast of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist:

Feast day : 29 August

Today the Church commemorates the beheading of Saint John the Baptist, the messenger and forerunner sent to prepare the way for the Messiah. He was beheaded on the orders of Herod Antipas, whom he condemned for marrying his brother’s wife Herodias. He had boldly declared their marriage to be an act of incest and adultery. From thereon, for his bold statements, Herodias zealously sought to take revenge against him. In order to please her, Herod had St. John arrested and put in prison. Almost a year later, during the festivities and celebrations on his birthday, Salome, the daughter of Herodias pleased Herod with her dancing. In return he promised to give her anything she would ask. She consulted her mother Herodias who seized the opportunity and advised her to ask for the head of St. John on a platter. Though Herod revered St. John as a holy man, he was bound by his word and ordered for the beheading of St. John. The head was brought on a platter to Salome as desired by her. His disciples later came and took away the body and buried it at Sebaste. Following his death, great misfortunes fell on Herod. He lost his territories and they were banished to Lyons where they both are believed to have died in great misery.