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Feast of the Birth of St John the Forerunner (Baptist)

15 Jan 2024

 

The Armenian Apostolic Church, observes the Feast of the Birth of St John the Baptist, the Forerunner, in January. The birth of St John is described in detail in the Gospel according to St Luke (1:5-25). He is known as the ‘forerunner’ because it was he who would herald the news of the Saviour through the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One day Zechariah, father of St John the Baptist, was doing his work as a priest in the Temple and was burning incense on the altar. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said that God had heard his prayer and his wife would bear him a son. Zechariah had to name him John. Zechariah didn’t believe the angel as he was and old man, and his wife was old too. As he hadn’t believed the angel, he became unable to speak and remained silent until the birth of John.

St John the Baptist, who would baptise the Saviour, had been aware of and rejoiced at the knowledge of the birth of Jesus, even before his birth. According to the Evangelist, when St Mary, Holy Mother of God, visited Elizabeth, mother of St John the Baptist, the latter, being filled with the Holy Spirit cried out, “Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness” (Lk 1:43-44).

The continuation of the words of Elizabeth are the message of this feast addressed to all Christians throughout the world, “How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!” (Lk 1:45).

On this occasion, those bearing Armenian names rooted in ‘St John the Baptist, the Forerunner’,  Hovhannes (John), Meguerditch (Baptist) and Garabed (Forerunner) celebrate their name day.

Details

Date:
15 Jan 2024
Event Category:

Details

Date:
15 Jan 2024
Event Category: