Nativity of John the Baptist

Nativity of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist John.

The Nativity of St. John the Forerunner is celebrated on June 24, six months before the Nativity of Christ. The Gospel of Luke recounts how the Archangel Gabriel announced to the aged priest Zacharias that his barren wife Elizabeth would bear a son; struck mute for his doubt, Zacharias regained his speech at the naming of the child and prophesied that the boy would be called the prophet of the Most High.

John was born to prepare the way of the Lord, and his birth was itself the beginning of the joy of the Gospel. The Church keeps the feast as one of the great celebrations of the Forerunner.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Nativity of John the Baptist is commemorated on June 24. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on July 7 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Ioannis, Giannis, Yiannis, Yannis, John

Also commemorated on June 24

• Athanasius Parios

  Venerable, Αθανάσιος ο Πάριος

  Venerable Athanasius Parios, theologian and teacher, leading figure of the Kollyvades movement.

• Righteous Zacharias and Elizabeth

  Saint, Ζαχαρίας και Ελισάβετ

  Synaxis of the Righteous Zacharias and Elizabeth, parents of Saint John the Baptist.

• Panagiotis of Caesarea, New Martyr

  Martyr, Παναγιώτης ο Καισαρεύς

  New Martyr Panagiotis of Caesarea in Cappadocia, beheaded in Constantinople in 1765.

  Name days: Panagiotis, Panayiotis, Panayotis, Panagiotes, Panayioti

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.