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Martyrdom of John the Baptist

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2026-08-29 09:03 UTC → 2026-08-29 11:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The biblical account details the execution of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas. Following John’s imprisonment for criticizing Herod’s marriage to Herodias, the prophet was executed during a birthday banquet. During the festivities, Herodias’ daughter, Salome, performed a dance that prompted the king to promise her any request. At her mother’s prompting, she requested ‘the head of John the Baptist on a platter’. To uphold his oath, Herod ordered the execution by decapitation, and the head was subsequently delivered to Salome. In the Orthodox and Catholic traditions, the feast of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist is observed on August 29. This day is marked by a strict fast, comparable to Good Friday, where the consumption of oil is prohibited to honor his martyrdom. Religious communities in Greece, the United States, Italy, and Brazil observe the feast through various services and commemorative events. The day also serves as the final major feast before the conclusion of the ecclesiastical year on August 31. In ~~Romania,~~ Romania and Greece, folk traditions associated with the feast include avoiding the use of knives for cutting food and abstaining from red ~~wine to symbolize the saint's blood. Other regional customs include avoiding~~ wine, red ~~foods and~~ foods, or certain round fruits ~~or nuts that resemble~~ and vegetables to symbolize the saint's ~~head. In some areas, the day is also known as ‘Small Cross’~~ blood or ~~‘Saint John of Autumn.’~~ head. Historical and religious discussions also focus on the preservation of his relics. Parts of his skull are held in various locations, including Mount Athos and the Amiens Cathedral in France, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Other historical links to the saint's relics include Jerusalem and Constantinople.

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