Cutoff head of John the Baptist. Beheading
About John the Baptist (John the Baptist) can be read at Nativity of John the Baptist. Put here a quote from the Gospel of Mark.
17 (...) Herod sent forth and laid hold on John, and bound him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip, because he had married her.
18 For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife!
19 Herodias lyutylas on it and wanted to kill him, and could not.
20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy, and observed him. And he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21 Then came the day dohidnyy when Herod's birthday feast supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee,
22 and when the daughter of the said Herodias, and danced, and pleased Herod and his guests at table, the king said to the girl: "Ask me whatever you wish, and I will give!
23 And he swore to her: "Why ask me, I will give you at least half of my kingdom!
24 She went and said to her mother: "Why I ask? She said: The head of John the Baptist ...
25 And now she hastily returned to the king and asked, saying: I want to give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist!
26 And the king was sorry, but the oath, and for those who were with him at the table, do not want to deny it.
27 And the king sent an executioner, and commanded to bring John's head.
28 And he went and killed in prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave the girls, and the damsel gave it to her mother ...
29 And when his disciples heard it, they came and took his body to the grave they laid him.
(Mark 6)
On these same events as described in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 14). Evangelist Luke is not too concerned the description of John's death, recalled her only in passing. Evangelist John it does not say. At least we did not find.
On the day cutoff head of John the Baptist Christians observed a strict one-day fast.
Orthodox Church celebrates new style cutoff head of John the Baptist 11.
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