Saint John the Baptizer

"The greatest among those born of women"

John the Baptist(in Hebrew יוחנן, Yoḥanan, sometimes Yoḥanan ben Zaḫariya, John the son of Zechariah) is one of the central figures of Christianity and Islam; preacher and baptizer on the banks of the Jordan River; the forerunner, herald and baptizer of Jesus.

The Christian Church honors him as the greatest of saints (having no less than 3 feasts dedicated to him). He is the one who prepared the way of the Lord, preaching repentance and baptizing the multitudes in the waters of the Jordan.

An angel announces to Zechariah

The Gospel according to Luke relates that, in the days of Herod Antipa, king of Judea, an angel announced to the righteous Zechariah, a priest from father to son and advanced in years, while he was in the Temple of the Lord for incense, that his prayer had been heard: Elizabeth, barren and advanced in years, a descendant of priests, would give birth to a child whose name was to be John.

"He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah..."

Holy Gospel according to Luke 1:14-17

Zechariah did not believe it, and the angel—the gospel continues—punished him by making him mute until the day these things were to be fulfilled. After some time, Elizabeth, his wife, became pregnant and kept herself in seclusion for five months.

Find out more details about the life of the Saint