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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist

Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist is the one who pointed the way to Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist baptized Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ in the Jordan River for our salvation. Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist's actions are in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Title

John is called "Prophet" because he told that the Savior was to come.
John is called "Forerunner" because he came immediately before Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and announced Him as the Savior.
John is called "Baptist" because he baptized Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.

Last Prophet

Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist is the last prophet. He came immediately before Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and announced Him as the Savior.

Ministry

The ministry of Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist was to tell people to turn away from their sins and prepare for the coming of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Quote

One of The Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist's famous quotes is "He must increase; I must decrease." John 3:30. The "He" is Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The "I" is Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist.

The Greatest Man Who ever Lived

Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ considered The Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist to be the greatest man who ever lived (Mt. 11:11, Lk. 7:29).

Great Feast of the Holy Theophany of Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ

Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist baptized Christ in the Jordan River for our salvation.
John is called "Baptist" because he baptized Christ in the Jordan River.

Ikonostasis

Saint John the Baptist

The Melkite Greek Catholic Church declared that The Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist was a Martyr and a Saint. He died for the sake of holy principles and God's commandments.

Feast Days

Kontakion, Troparion, Exapostilarion, and Vespers Sticheron or Doxastikon

CONCEPTION OF FORERUNNER AND PROPHET JOHN THE BAPTIST - 23 SEPTEMBER

TROPARION (TONE 4)
Joy to you, O barren one unable to give birth! Behold, you conceive today the one who is really a Torch of the Sun, who will enlighten the whole world that suffered from blindness. Rejoice, O Zachary, and cry out in all confidence: "The One who will be born is a Prophet of the Most High!".

KONTAKION (TONE 3)
Zachary rejoices greatly with his wife Elizabeth, for she has conceived John the Forerunner whom the angel announced in gladness. As for us, we honor him in witness of this blessing.

NATIVITY OF FORERUNNER AND PROPHET JOHN THE BAPTIST - 24 JUNE

TROPARION (TONE 4)
O Prophet and Forerunner of the coming of Christ, in spite of our eagerness to render you due honor, we fall short when singing your praise. Your glorious birth saved your mother from the shame of barrenness, returned to your father the power of speech, and proclaimed to the world the Incarnation of the Son of God.

KONTAKION (TONE 3)
The woman who had been barren becomes fertile and gives birth today to the Forerunner of Christ. He is the greatest and last of the prophets, for standing in the waters of the Jordon River, he placed his hands on Christ whom all the prophets had announced, and in so doing he became a prophet himself, a preacher and a forerunner of the Word of God.

BEHEADING OF FORERUNNER AND PROPHET JOHN THE BAPTIST - 29 AUGUST

TROPARION (TONE 2)
The memory of the just is mentioned with praise. As for you, O Forerunner, the Lord's witness is enough : indeed, you were greater than the prophets since you were found worthy to baptize in the waters the One they could but announce. You have fought for the sake of truth and proclaimed to those in Hades that God who appeared in the flesh has taken away the sins of the world and bestowed his great mercy upon us.

KONTAKION (TONE 3)
The beheading of the Forerunner was an act of divine providence: the occasion for him to announce the coming of the Saviour to the souls in Hades. Let then Herodias lament and weep, for she has asked for murder, prefering the present life and its pleasures to eternal life and God's law.

FIRST AND SECOND DISCOVERIES OF THE HEAD OF FORERUNNER AND PROPHET JOHN THE BAPTIST - 24 FEBRUARY

TROPARION (TONE 4)
The head of the Forerunner arose from the earth like a star, sending out rays of healing and immortality. In heaven, it gathers together the choirs of angels, while on earth it assembles the human race in a single voice to sing the glory of Christ God.

KONTAKION (TONE 2)
O Prophet of God and Forerunner of Grace, within the earth we have discovered your head, a rose of great holiness whence healing always comes to us. As you did of old, now also do you preach repentance to the world.

THIRD DISCOVERY OF THE HEAD OF FORERUNNER AND PROPHET JOHN THE BAPTIST - 25 MAY

TROPARION (TONE 4)
O Prophet and Forerunner, it is Christ who revealed to us a divine treasure: your head that was hidden in the ground. On the occasion of this discovery, we gather to sing inspired hymns of praise to the Saviour who, through your intercession, delivered us all from corruption.

KONTAKION (TONE 4)
O Forerunner, by giving your venerable head to the sinful woman, Herod broke the Law of God. As for us, at the sight of this head, we cry out for joy and say: "Pray to the Lord that He may grant mercy to us all."

The Holy and Illustrious Apostle Andrew, The First-Called

The Holy and Illustrious Apostle Andrew, The First-Called, was a disciple of The Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist.
The Holy and Illustrious Apostle Andrew, The First-Called heard The Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist say as Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ walked by "Behold the Lamb of God." The Holy and Illustrious Apostle Andrew, The First-Called followed Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Jn. 2:36-37).

More information about the Holy and Glorious Forerunner and Prophet John the Baptist:

St. John of the Desert, St. John of the Desert Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Phoenix, AZ in About.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Encyclopedia

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Wednesday, June 03, 2020, 16:48:57, CDT
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