The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

August 29

In addition to the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24, the church, since the fourth century has commemorated the martyrdom of Christ’s Forerunner. The story of the saint’s death is among the most dramatic narratives in Holy Scripture. All three synoptic writers refer to it. St. Mark goes into the greatest detail (Mk. 6:14 -29). Matthew provides the text from which the Gospel of the feast is taken (14:1-12); St. Luke is the briefest (Lk. 3:19 -29, 9:7-9).

The story of St. John’s beheading is basically as follows. Herod Antipas, the ambitious but weak ruler of most of Palestine , fell in love with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, and took her for his wife, thus breaking the Jewish law against levirate marriage. John the Baptist fearlessly reprimanded the king for his adulterous union, saying, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (mk. 6:18 ). Herod was at first afraid to harm the great prophet; but later, at the instigation of Herodias, he imprisoned him in the fortress of Machaerus. But Herod had not yet made an ultimate decision. He wavered in his resolve and at times even wanted to release John.” But Herodias laid snares for him, and would have liked to put him to death” Mk. 6:19 ). Her chance came at the birthday feast, which Herod gave for the “princess and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee . And Herodias’ own daughter having come in and danced pleased Herod and his guest. And the King said to the girl, Ask of me what you will, and I will give it to you.’ And he swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask, I will give you even though it be the half of my kingdom’” (Mk 6:21 -23). Advised by her revengeful mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist. Herod had not anticipated such a request. The Gospel says, “He was struck sad.” But nonetheless, he complied with it “because of his oath and his guest.” He sent the executioner to the prison to behead the man of God. The Gospel tells nothing further about the abasement of the holy head, but legend states that the adulteress was bent on keeping in her possession the tongue of him who did not spare her guilt.