This was because he was a hermit whose stamina was upright, whose beard came down like woven silk, whose hair was as dark as a raven, and who had an appearance that was complete and had an impression that triggered fear.✞He then immediately preached to the people to repent and baptized many unto repentance. And after six months in this ministry, our Lord came to him. St. John was alarmed when the Creator, Who holds heaven and earth with everything in them in His hands, came saying, “Baptize Me.” He [St. John] did not know where to go.
✞He said, “No my Lord! You baptize me.” However, the Lord responded with, “I have permitted it [for you St. John to baptize Me].” So, he baptized Him. And for this, he will always be called, “Metmeqe Melekot” (The Baptist). Finally, St. John rebuked Herod (Antipas). And the king led by a grudge imprisoned him for 7 days.
✞And when Herod celebrated his birthday, the daughter of Herodias trapped him with music and persuaded him to make a vow. And he gave her the head of the great prophet in a charger, after decapitating him. The scholars say, “it was better for him if he had swallowed up [have not honored] his vow.” Then, while the decapitated head of St. John flew away, his disciples buried his body (Matt. 3:.1/ Mark 6:14/ Luke 3:1/ John 1:6).
✞The head of John the Baptist flew with wings of grace after the cursed Herod beheaded him and it bowed down before the Lord at Mt. Olive, where he was. The Holy Apostles astounded by what they saw, gave salutations to the Saint’s head.
✞After this, our Lord Jesus Christ, gave authority to St. John’s head to preach and sent it forth. Thence, it spent 15 years preaching all over the world and on this day it rested in Arabia.
+++ Names of St. John the Baptist +++
1. Prophet
2. Apostle
3. Martyr
4. Righteous
5. Priest
6. Hermit/Ascetic
7. Baptist [Metmeqe Melekot]
8. Forerunner
9. Virgin
10. Bridge (that joins the Old and the New)
11. Herald (The voice that crieth)
12. Teacher and Rebuker
13. Greater from All
✞✞✞May our Lord, the Holy Savior, in remembrance of St. John the Baptist forgive us. And may He indwell in us his grace, blessing and glory.
✞✞✞ Annual feasts celebrated on the 30th of Yekatit
1. St. John the Baptist (After the Great Prophet and Priest St. John the Baptist was brutally beheaded with a sword by the order of Herod, his head travelled and preached for 15 years and rested. And on this day is commemorated the day it was found in a clay vessel. And the feast is called “Terekbote Re’su” – “The Finding/Appearance of His Head.”)
2. Abba Minas the Archbishop
✞✞✞ Monthly Feasts
1. St. Mark the Apostle
2. Abba Shalusi the Honorable
3. St. Gregory the Theologian
4. St. Sophia Martyr
✞✞✞ “. . . Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John . . . But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. . . Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist . . . For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”✞✞✞
Matt. 11:7-15
✞✞✞ Salutations to God ✞✞✞
(Translated by Mhr. Esuendale Shemeles with the permission of Dn. Yordanos Abebe)
✞He said, “No my Lord! You baptize me.” However, the Lord responded with, “I have permitted it [for you St. John to baptize Me].” So, he baptized Him. And for this, he will always be called, “Metmeqe Melekot” (The Baptist). Finally, St. John rebuked Herod (Antipas). And the king led by a grudge imprisoned him for 7 days.
✞And when Herod celebrated his birthday, the daughter of Herodias trapped him with music and persuaded him to make a vow. And he gave her the head of the great prophet in a charger, after decapitating him. The scholars say, “it was better for him if he had swallowed up [have not honored] his vow.” Then, while the decapitated head of St. John flew away, his disciples buried his body (Matt. 3:.1/ Mark 6:14/ Luke 3:1/ John 1:6).
✞The head of John the Baptist flew with wings of grace after the cursed Herod beheaded him and it bowed down before the Lord at Mt. Olive, where he was. The Holy Apostles astounded by what they saw, gave salutations to the Saint’s head.
✞After this, our Lord Jesus Christ, gave authority to St. John’s head to preach and sent it forth. Thence, it spent 15 years preaching all over the world and on this day it rested in Arabia.
+++ Names of St. John the Baptist +++
1. Prophet
2. Apostle
3. Martyr
4. Righteous
5. Priest
6. Hermit/Ascetic
7. Baptist [Metmeqe Melekot]
8. Forerunner
9. Virgin
10. Bridge (that joins the Old and the New)
11. Herald (The voice that crieth)
12. Teacher and Rebuker
13. Greater from All
✞✞✞May our Lord, the Holy Savior, in remembrance of St. John the Baptist forgive us. And may He indwell in us his grace, blessing and glory.
✞✞✞ Annual feasts celebrated on the 30th of Yekatit
1. St. John the Baptist (After the Great Prophet and Priest St. John the Baptist was brutally beheaded with a sword by the order of Herod, his head travelled and preached for 15 years and rested. And on this day is commemorated the day it was found in a clay vessel. And the feast is called “Terekbote Re’su” – “The Finding/Appearance of His Head.”)
2. Abba Minas the Archbishop
✞✞✞ Monthly Feasts
1. St. Mark the Apostle
2. Abba Shalusi the Honorable
3. St. Gregory the Theologian
4. St. Sophia Martyr
✞✞✞ “. . . Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John . . . But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. . . Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist . . . For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”✞✞✞
Matt. 11:7-15
✞✞✞ Salutations to God ✞✞✞
(Translated by Mhr. Esuendale Shemeles with the permission of Dn. Yordanos Abebe)