Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist

First and Second Finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Forerunner.

This feast commemorates the First and Second Findings of the honorable head of St. John the Forerunner. According to tradition, after the Baptist was beheaded by Herod his head was hidden, and in later generations it was revealed and recovered by the faithful; in times of persecution it was concealed again and found anew, each recovery received with rejoicing and accompanied by healings.

The Church keeps this commemoration on February 24, honoring the relics of the greatest of the prophets. The feast bears witness to the Orthodox veneration of holy relics, through which the grace of God that dwelt in the saints continues to work.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist is commemorated on February 24. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on March 9 (a day earlier in leap years) of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

John, Ioannis, Yiannis, Prodromos

Also commemorated on February 24

• Erasmus of the Kiev Caves

  Venerable, Έρασμος

  Venerable Erasmus of the Kiev Near Caves.

  Name days: Erasmos, Erasmus

• John the Harvester

  Venerable, Ιωάννης ο Θεριστής

  Venerable John the Harvester of Calabria.

• Ethelbert of Kent

  Saint, Εθελβέρτος

  St. Ethelbert, King of Kent, first Christian king of the English.

• Boisil of Melrose

  Venerable, Βοϊσίλος

  Venerable Boisil, Abbot of Melrose in Scotland, teacher of St. Cuthbert.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.