Menaion

August 29

Great feastTHE BEHEADING OF THE HOLY PROPHET, FORERUNNER, AND BAPTIST JOHN. Because John had denounced Herod Antipas for putting away his own wife and marrying the wife of his brother Philip, Herod imprisoned John. At a feast in honor of Herod’s birthday, his stepdaughter Salome danced for him. Herod promised her anything; her mother Herodias told her to ask for the head of John on a platter. This martyrdom is commemorated on this day because a church was dedicated on this day to the Forerunner’s beheading by the emperor Constantine and his mother Helena.

At Vespers

music (samohlasen)

“Blessed is the man” is sung. There are eight stichera at "O Lord, I have cried":

Tone 6 samohlasen. While the birthday of the shameless Herod was being celebrated, * the oath made to the lustful dancer was fulfilled; * the head of the Forerunner was cut off * and offered on a platter to those at table. * What a loathsome banquet, filled with wickedness and horrible murder. * As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer, * for he is the greatest man born of woman. (twice)

After dancing, the disciple of the all-evil Satan * requested your head as her payment, O Forerunner. * What a bloody banquet! * Would that you had not made that vow, * O sinful Herod, offspring of a lie. * Since you did make it, would that you had not carried it out; * for it would have been better to have gone back on your oath and received life * than remaining true to your oath * to have cut off the head of the Forerunner. * As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer, * for he is the greatest man born of woman. (twice)

O Herod, it was not appropriate for you, * because of a satanic passion, to condemn to death * the one who reproached you for your adultery * and the folly of your lust for women. * it was not proper for you to err * and to deliver his all-honored head to a sinful woman * for the sake of a vow made to a dancer. * Woe to you for daring such murder! * How was it that this adulterous dancer * was not consumed by fire in the midst of the banquet, * as she carried the head on a platter? * As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer, * for he is the greatest man born of woman. (twice)

Again Herodias has lost her self-control; * again she is disturbed. * What a cunning and deceiving dance, * and what mindless drunkenness! * The Forerunner's head is cut off and Herod is troubled. * Therefore, O Lord, by the intercessions of your Forerunner, * grant peace to our souls. (twice)

Glory –  Tone 6.  While the birthday of the shameless Herod was being celebrated, * the oath made to the lustful dancer was fulfilled; * the head of the Forerunner was cut off * and offered on a platter to those at table. * What a loathsome banquet, filled with wickedness and horrible murder. * As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer, * for he is the greatest man born of woman.

Now and ever – the dogmatikon of Saturday evening, in the same tone.

Entrance with censer, and prokeimenon of the day.  Then three readings:

A reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 40: 1-3, 9; 41:17-18; 45: 8; 48-20-21; 54:1).

A reading from the Prophecy of Malachi (Malachi 3:1; Mark 1:2; Malachi 3:1-3, 5-7, 12, 18, 18; Malachi 4:4-6).

A reading from the Wisdom of Soloman (Wisdom 4:7, 16-17, 19 - 5:7).

Stichera at the Litija:

Tone 1 Bolhar. What shall we call you, O Prophet? * An angel, an apostle, or martyr? * An angel, because you lived as a bodiless being. * An apostle, because you taught the nations. * A martyr, because you were beheaded for Christ. * Entreat Him to have mercy on our souls.

Let us commemorate the beheading of the Forerunner. * At that time, blood poured out on the platter; * now healings are poured out throughout the world.

Today the mother is the cause of a shameful and murderous act, * for she urges her shameless daughter who was born of an unlawful union * to plot against the one whom God called the greatest of the prophets. * When the evil Herod celebrated his birthday with a banquet, * she asked for the precious head of the divine Forerunner. * Because of his oath, Herod delivered the head * as a price for the daughter's dancing. * But the prophet of the coming of Christ * did not cease to denounce the union which was reproved by God. * He denounced it, saying: * It is not lawful for you to commit adultery with your brother Philip's wife. * O the murderous birthday and feast overflowing with blood! * On this day of the beheading of the Prophet and Forerunner, * we the faithful celebrate in joy as in festive garb, * and we pray that the Trinity may be compassionate to us, * and deliver us from the disgrace of our passions, * and that our souls may be saved.

Tone 4 Bolhar. An evil birthday and a lustful banquet is celebrated by Herod today; * for having delighted in adultery and being driven by lustful desires, * he beheaded the Baptist. * But he could not stop the tongue of the Prophet * which condemned his foolishness. * He spilled innocent blood to cover up his unlawful deeds, * but he could not cover the voice who called the world to repentance. * And if he took pleasure in the murder, * we celebrate with all our heart the death of John the Baptist. * For he preceded the Life of all into Hades * to announce to those in darkness and the shadow of death * the coming of Christ our God, the Orient from on high, * whose mercy is beyond measure.

Come, O people, let us exalt the Prophet, Martyr, and Baptizer of the Savior. * He is an angel in the flesh. * He has condemned Herod and convicted him of unlawful adultery. * Because of the unlawful dancing, his precious head is cut off. * He is in Paradise and is preaching the good news of the resurrection from the dead. * He is fittingly praying to the Lord that our souls may be saved.

Come, O faithful, let us exalt the Prophet, Martyr, and Baptizer of the Savior. * He fled into the desert and remained there, * nourishing himself on locusts and wild honey. * He rebuked the king who violated the law. * And he comforts our faintheartedness, saying: * Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Glory –  Tone 5 Bolhar. When Herod wished to free himself from the rebuke of his sinful deeds, * he delivered your head unjustly, O Forerunner, * to a transgressing woman. * Nor did this wretched one realize that offering it on a platter * was a condemnation for him. * Therefore, since you are a practical teacher of purity * and a saving guide to repentance, * O Baptizer, implore Christ * to deliver us from the shame of our passions.

Now and ever –  in the same tone. O people, sing to the Mother of our God; * for, on this day, she delivers her radiant soul into the most pure hands * of the One who took flesh of her without seed. * In his presence she intercedes unceasingly * that he grant peace and great mercy to the world.

The aposticha are for the feast:

Tone 2 samohlasen.  O John the Baptizer and preacher of repentance, * you sanctified the earth when you were beheaded. * You made plain to believers the law of God, * abolishing disobedience to the law. * Therefore, since you stand by the throne of Christ the heavenly King, * beseech Him to have mercy on our souls.

The just man will flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon.

O most holy John, your head was cut off for preaching the law of the Lord, * for in blameless privilege you reproached the unbelieving king * when he disobeyed the law. * Therefore, the hosts of angels wonder at you, * and the ranks of apostles and martyrs praise you. * We also honor your yearly memorial, O most noble one, * glorifying the holy Trinity * who has crowned you, O blessed Forerunner.

The just man will rejoice in the Lord and will put his trust in him.

Born of the prophet Zechariah, he was the greatest of the prophets * and was sanctified from his mother's womb for the service of the Lord. * Today he was beheaded by an evil king. * Both before and after his beheading, * his head was a living reproach for the maiden who danced indecently, * thus covering one sin with another. * Therefore, we call out: * O John the Baptizer, having acquired favor with the Lord, * beseech Him unceasingly for the salvation of our souls.

Glory – Tone 8.  You rebuked kings, O Forerunner of the Savior, * that they might not act contrary to the law. * But the frolicking of a sinful woman * won over Herod to behead you. * Therefore, your name is praised * from the place of the rising to the place of the setting of the sun. * And since you have favor with the Lord, * beseech Him unceasingly for the salvation of our souls.

Now and ever – the aposticha theotokion of Saturday evening, in the same tone.

Troparion,  Tone 2.  The memory of the righteous is celebrated with praise, * but for you, O Furerunner, the Lord’s testimony is enough. * You were shown to be more honorable than the prophets, * since you were deemed worthy to baptize in the waters the Lord you had proclaimed. * Therefore, you fought for the truth * and with joy proclaimed the good news to those in Hades, * that God has appeared in the flesh * to take away the sins of the world and to grant us great mercy. (twice)

Now and ever – Tone 4.  Rejoice, O VIrgin Theotokos! * Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you! * Blessed are you among women, * and blessed is the fruit of your womb. For you gave birth to Christ, * the Savior and Redeemer of our souls.

At the Divine Liturgy

music

Troparion,  Tone 2.  The memory of the righteous is celebrated with praise, * but for you, O Furerunner, the Lord’s testimony is enough. * You were shown to be more honorable than the prophets, * since you were deemed worthy to baptize in the waters the Lord you had proclaimed. * Therefore, you fought for the truth * and with joy proclaimed the good news to those in Hades, * that God has appeared in the flesh * to take away the sins of the world and to grant us great mercy.

Glory, now and ever – Kontakion, Tone 5.   The glorious beheading of the Foreunner was part of God’s saving plan * that the coming of the Savior might be announced even to those in Hades. * Let Herodias mourn, for she sought a lawless murder, * because she loved neither the Law of God nor eternal life, * but only this false and fleeting life.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7 (Ps. 63:11,2). The just man will rejoice in the Lord * and will put his trust in him.
V. Hear my voice, O God, when I pray to you.

Epistle:  Acts 13:25-33

Alleluia, Tone 4 (Ps. 91:13,14). Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. The just man will flourish like the psalm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon.
V. Planted in the house of the Lord, he will flourish in the courts of our God.

Gospel: Mark 6:14-30

Communion Hymn (Ps. 111:6,7). The just man will be remembered forever; evil news he will not fear. Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!