Today, Wednesday January 7, according to the Orthodox calendar, the Orthodox Church honors the Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist, the day following Epiphany dedicated to the Saint who was deemed worthy to baptize Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. Saint John holds a special position in the Orthodox Church as the last and greatest of the Prophets, as well as the first martyr of the New Testament, with his sacrifice marking the beginning of Christian martyrdom.
He is the last and greatest of the Old Testament Prophets and simultaneously the first martyr of the New Testament, the man who stood at the boundary of two eras and united them. Born to the righteous Zacharias and Elizabeth, he carried God’s grace from the womb, as Scripture testifies.
His life was strictly ascetic. He lived in the desert, away from worldly life, eating locusts and wild honey and wearing clothing of hair. He never sought honors or power; his preaching was simple, absolute and uncompromising: repentance, return to God, preparation for the coming of the Messiah. He did not hesitate to rebuke sin even among the powerful, which ultimately led him to martyrdom.
The pinnacle moment of his life was the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. There, John becomes the witness of the revelation of the Holy Trinity and he himself declares with absolute humility: “I am not worthy to loose the strap of his sandals.” His ethos is summarized in the phrase: “He must increase, but I must decrease,” which constitutes a timeless model of spiritual life.
The Church honors him more than any other saint after the Virgin Mary, with many feasts dedicated to his life, birth, martyrdom and beheading. Saint John remains to this day the eternal symbol of truth, repentance and unwavering witness of faith.
Saint Kentigern, Bishop of Scotland
Saint Kentigern was a bishop and missionary in Scotland, where he worked zealously for the spread of Christianity. Through his pastoral work and personal holiness he contributed to strengthening faith in difficult historical circumstances.
Today is the First Day After Epiphany, continuing the spiritual light and grace of the great dominical feast of Holy Lights.
Orthodox calendar: Who celebrates name days today
Today celebrate those named:
- John, Joanna, Johnny, Jane
- Prodromos
