THE SYNAXIS OF THE HONORABLE, PROPHET, FORERUNNER, AND BAPTIST JOHN

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

The Synaxis of the Honorable, Prophet, Forerunner,
and Baptist JOHN.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Forerunner. Second Tone

THE memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the
Lord’s testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; for thou hast
proved to be truly even more Venerable than the Prophets, since thou
was granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they
proclaimed. Wherefore having congested for the truth, thou didst
rejoice to announce the Good Tidings even to those in Hades: that
God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world
and granting us great mercy.

Kontakion of the Forerunner. Plagal of Second Tone

TERRIFIED at Thy bodily presence, Jordan turned back in fear; and
having fulfilled his Prophetic Ministry, John drew back in trembling.
The orders of Angels were amazed to see Thee in the streams
baptized in the flesh, and all those in darkness were illumined and
;praised Thee, Who hadst appeared and hadst enlightened all things.
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Saint John, the Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist, today, January 7th, is commemorated by the Holy Church. The word SYNAXIS signifies A GATHERING OR ASSEMBLING. In this case, ODAY’S SYNAXIS IS AN ASSEMBLY OF THE CONGREGATION FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, with a vigil and Eucharist, and instruction regarding the Feast-Day of Saint John, following the Major Feast of the Theophany, in which he materially participated.

Saint John the Baptist’s Life and
Ministry (Diakonia).

Saint Ephraim the Syrian (306-383 A.D.) says that "the daughter (Elisabeth) of Aaron the priest gave birth to the voice in the desert [Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3], and the daughter (Mary) of King David to the Logos/Word of the heavenly King." The hymnographers of the Church proclaim John as that "VOICE." Saint Kyril of Jerusalem (349-386 A.D.) observes: "John {the Baptist) alone, while carried in the womb, leaped for joy [Luke 1:44]; and though he saw not with the eyes of the flesh, HE KNEW HIS MASTER BY THE SPIRIT. For since the grace of Baptism was great, it required greatness in its founder also. Saint Ephraim writes: "He who was to baptize with water would proclaim Him Who would baptize in fire and in the Holy Spirit…" [cf. Matthew 3:11].

The Prophet Isaiah also said, "Be glad, thou thirsty desert: let the wilderness exult, and flower as the lily. And the desert places of Jordan shall blossom and rejoice [Isaiah 35:1-2]. And, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT THE PATHS OF OUR GOD’… And the glory of the Lord shall appear, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God, for the Lord hath spoken it [Isaiah 40:5]. Saint Kyril of Alexandria [378-444 A.D.] says, "The blessed Isaiah knew the work of the Forerunner in proclaiming Christ, and styled John His MINISTER and SERVANT, and said that he was a lamp advancing before the True Light, the Morning Star heralding the Sun. He foreshadowed the COMING OF THE DAY THAT WAS ABOUT TO SHED ITS RAYS UPON US; AND THAT HE WAS A VOICE, NOT A WORD, FORERUNNING JESUS, AS THE VOICE DOES THE WORD.

Saint John Chrysotomos (347-407 A.D.) writes of the Forerunner’s life and ministry: "Conceive, for example, how great a thing it was to see a man AFTER THIRTY YEARS COMING DOWN FROM THE WILDERNESS, being a son of a Chief Priest [Luke 3:2], who had never known the common wants of men, and was on every account Venerable, and had Isaiah with him…For so great was the earnestness of the Prophets touching these things, that not their own Lord only, but him also WHO WAS TO MINISTER UNTO HIM, THEY PROCLAIMED A LONG TIME BEFOREHAND. And they not only mentioned him, but the place too in which he was to abide, and the manner of the doctrine which he had to teach when he came, and the good effect that was produced by him."

Saint John said, "PRODUCE FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE" [Luke 3:8]. According to Saint Kyril, "THE FRUIT OF REPENTANCE IS, IN THE HIGHEST DEGREE, FAITH IN CHRIST; AND NEXT TO IT, THE EVANGELIC MODE OF LIFE, AND IN GENERAL TERMS THE WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN CONTRADISTINCTION TO SIN, WHICH THE PENITENT MUST BRING FORTH AS FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE." The Baptist then says, "Think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for a father’; for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham" [Luke 3:8]. Saint Kyril observes that Saint John "skilfully humbles their foolish pride . For of what benefit is nobility of birth, if men practice not the like earnest deeds, nor imitate the virtue of their ancestors? The relationship GOD REQUIRES IS ONE IN CHARACTER AND MANNERS; SO THAT IT IS A VAIN THING TO BOAST OF HOLY AND GOOD PARENTS, WHILE WE FALL SHORT OF THEIR VIRTUE."

The Baptist John answered those who asked whether or not he was Christ, saying, "I INDEED BAPTIZE YOU IN WATER, BUT THE ONE MIGHTIER THAN I COMETH, OF WHOM I AM NOT FIT TO LOOSE THE STRAP OF SANDALS. HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND IN FIRE" [Luke 3:16]. Saint Ambrose explains: "Since man IS OF TWO NATURES, NAMELY, HE SUBSISTS FROM A SOUL AND BODY, THE VISIBLE IS HALLOWED BY THE VISIBLE THINGS, THE INVISIBLE BY AN INVISIBLE MYSTERY; FOR THE BODY IS WASHED IN WATER, BUT BLEMISHES OF THE SOUL ARE CLEANSED IN THE SPIRIT."

Saint John "was clothed with camel hairs, and he wore a leathern belt about his loins" [Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6]. Saint John Chrysostomos tells us: "For this reason his outer garment was of hair, in order that by his form HE MIGHT INSTRUCT THE PEOPLE TO LEAVE HUMAN THINGS, AND TO HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH THE EARTH, BUT HASTEN BACK TO THEIR EARLIER NOBILITY, WHEREIN ADAM WAS BEFORE HE WANTED GARMENTS AND COVERINGS. THUS THAT DRESS BORE THE TOKENS OF A KINGDOM AND REPENTANCE."

As to his food, he ate locusts and wild honey [Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6]. Saint Theophylactos comments that "some say that THE LOCUSTS ARE A KIND OF HERB, WHICH IS ALSO MELAGRA; BUT OTHER SAY IT IS A TYPE OF FRUIT GROWING ON THE UPPER BRANCHES OF TREES, ESPECIALLY HARD-SHELLED FRUITS WHICH WERE WILD FRUITS.

The Baptist John was proclaiming A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE TOWARD REMISSION OF SINS," "And all the land of Judaea, and of Jerusalem , were going out to him; and all were being baptized in the Jordan River by him, CONFESSING THEIR SINS" [Mark 1:4-5]. Blessed Theophylactos comments: "John preached THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE which led toward the remission of sins…The Forerunner proclaimed the baptism of repentance so that those who repent and receive Christ would have the forgiveness of sins." And elsewhere, "John’s baptism GAVE NEITHER SPIRITUAL GRACE NOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN, BUT CHRIST WILL FORGIVE YOU AND GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT ABUNDANTLY." Saint John says that Christ "SHALL BAPTIZE YOU IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND IN FIRE" [Matthew 3:11]. Saint John Chrysostomos comments: "He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit; and by this metaphor he declares THE ABUNDANCE OF GRACE. For he NOT, "He shall give you the Holy Spirit," but "He shall baptized you in the Holy Spirit." And by the additional mention of the fire, he again indicates the EXCEEDINGLY STRONG AND ROVING QUALITY OF THE GRACE."

THE SPIRIT DESCENDING AS A DOVE

Saint John bore witness, saying, "I have beheld the Spirit descending out of heaven as a dove, and He abode upon Him. And I new Him not, but the One Who sent me to baptize in water, that One said to me, ‘UPON WHOMSOEVER THOU SHALT SEE THE SPIRIT DESCENDING AND ABIDING ON HIM, THIS IS THE ONE WHO BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND I HAVE SEEN AND HAVE BORNE WITNESS THAT THIS IS THE SON OF GOD" [John 1:32-34]. Saint Ambrose comments: "It was not a dove that descended, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT "AS A DOVE" [Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10]. Saint Gregory the Great: "We must ask why the Spirit appeared over our Redeemer, the Mediator between God and men, like a dove? The Only-Begotten is the Judge of the human race. Who could bear His Righteousness if before He gathered us in through His gentleness He had willed to examine our sins through His righteous fervor? Having become Man, H showed Himself mild to us, willing rather to gather us than to smite us. He will first TO CORRECT GENTLY… Thus, the Spirit appeared over Him like a dove, since He was not coming to smite our sins now in His fervor, BUT TO CONTINUE TO PUT UP WITH THEM IN HIS GENTLENESS."

Saint Athanasios, Archbishop of Alexandria (328 A.D.), observes that "the Spirit’s descent on Him in the Jordan WAS A DESCENT UPON US, BECAUSE OF HIS BEARING OUR BODY. For when the Lord, as Man, was washed in the Jordan, IT WAS WE WHO WERE WASHED IN HIM AND BY HIM. AND WHEN HE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT, IT WAS WE WHO BY HIM WERE MADE RECIPIENTS OF THE SPIRIT. [Resources: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George