September 11th in church calendar- a special day for Orthodox people. Believers remember John the Baptist.
It was he who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. The life of the revered prophet has long been considered tragic. On this day there is a fast during which Orthodox Christians significantly limit themselves, as well as traditions passed on from generation to generation.
On this day, they remember John the Baptist, who very long ago was able to foresee the Coming of the Messiah and baptized Jesus Christ. His life was cut short by tragedy. King Herod Antipas did not like John the Baptist. This is because the prophet opened people’s eyes to all the sins of their ruler. However, Herod did not want to simply kill him: the king was afraid of the anger of the people, and they loved John very much, so such a death was not very profitable for Herod.
However, later everything turned out differently. The wife of the king's brother asked her daughter named Salome to persuade the king to kill the prophet. The girl danced such a beautiful dance for Herod that he was ready to fulfill her every whim. The beauty asked for John's head on a platter. She achieved her goal: the prophet's head was cut off.
Traditions of the Orthodox holiday of September 11
11 September Orthodox people, according to tradition, they adhere to fasting. On the table of believers on this day you will not see fish or meat, as well as eggs and dairy products. It is customary to prepare dishes seasoned only with vegetable oil. On products round shape There is also a ban: you cannot eat bread, tomatoes or apples. In this way, Orthodox people express their respect to the tragically deceased John the Baptist.
What you can do on September 11
On this day you can break off food with your hands. If you are planning a small feast, then everything needs to be prepared in advance. You should also read a prayer in honor of John the Baptist.
Many believers are interested in: what church holiday is celebrated in 2019 on September 11 (August 29, old style)? On this day, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of John the Baptist.
The full name of this great holiday is the Beheading of the Honest Head, the Honest and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John. An all-night vigil is held in churches the day before, and a liturgy is held on the day of celebration.
In honor of what was the Orthodox holiday established on September 11?
The death of the prophet and the events preceding it are told in the Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 14:1-12) and Mark (Mark 6:14-29). In the 32nd year of Christ, Saint John the Baptist was imprisoned at the behest of the ruler of Galilee, Herod Antipas (the son of Herod the Great, who killed fourteen thousand Bethlehem babies).
Having left his legitimate wife, the daughter of the Arabian king Arethas, Herod Antipas cohabited with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for which John denounced him.
On his birthday, Herod held a feast to which he invited representatives of the nobility, elders and commanders. Herodias' daughter Salome performed a dance that Herod liked, and as a reward for her performance, he promised to fulfill any of her requests, even if she asked for half of his kingdom.
The vengeful Herodias told her daughter to ask the ruler for the severed head of John the Baptist on a platter. Although Herod feared the wrath of God for killing the prophet and was afraid of popular unrest, he still decided to fulfill the promise he made to his nobles.
John's head, cut off by the executioner, was brought to Salome on a platter. As the legend says, the lips of the dead head of the preacher opened and said: “Herod, you should not have the wife of your brother Philip...”. Later, God's judgment was carried out on Herod, Herodias and Salome, and they all died.
The wife of the royal steward secretly took the holy head, placed it in a vessel and buried it on the Mount of Olives in one of Herod’s estates. Later, one pious man, who was digging a ditch for the foundation of the temple, found this shrine and kept it with himself, and before his death, so that the shrine would not be found by our unbelieving people, he hid it in the ground in the same place where he found it.
During the reign of Constantine the Great, John the Baptist appeared to one of the monks who came to Jerusalem to venerate the Holy Sepulcher and pointed out where his head was buried. From that time on, Christians began to celebrate the First Finding of the Head of John the Baptist.
His disciples buried the body of the prophet in the Samaritan city of Sebastia. Evangelist Luke, going around cities and villages preaching Christ, took to Antioch a piece of the relics of the great prophet - his right hand, which, according to legend, he laid on the head of Jesus Christ during the rite of His baptism.
In 959, when the Muslims captured Antioch, the hand of the Forerunner was transferred to Chalcedon, then to Constantinople, where it was kept until the conquest of the city by the Turks. Then the shrine was located in St. Petersburg in the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands in the Winter Palace.
How is the 9/11 church holiday celebrated?
In the Orthodox Church, this is also a day of special general remembrance of the dead - one of the “ parent's Saturdays" There are eight such days in the church calendar: Meat Saturday, Trinity Saturday, Dmitrievskaya Saturday, Beheading of John the Baptist, days of remembrance in Lent(second, third and fourth Saturdays from the beginning of Lent) and Radonitsa.
On the day when the Beheading of the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John is celebrated, clergy commemorate the dead in churches, believers tidy up the graves of their relatives, give alms and treat the poor and wanderers.
The churches also commemorate the child warriors who laid down their lives for the Fatherland. This commemoration was established in 1769, when there was a war with Turkey and a war in Poland.
What should Christians do and should not do on 9/11?
The story about the Orthodox holiday that falls on September 11 would be incomplete if we did not remember the fast that is observed on this day. It is quite strict: believers cannot eat not only meat and dairy foods, but even fish.
The Slavs have many customs associated with this date that have been observed since ancient times. Thus, it is believed that one should not eat foods that have a round shape resembling a human head: watermelons, onions, turnips, cabbage, apples, etc. People say: “If you cut a fork of cabbage on this day, you may bleed.”
Another tradition is not to use knives and other sharp and piercing objects (sickle, scythe, ax, etc.). Even bread should be broken with your hands, not cut with a knife.
According to tradition, vegetables, red fruits (tomatoes, apples, etc.) and similar drinks are also not consumed. It is better not to eat anything from the dish, because it was on the dish that the head of John the Baptist lay. However, the Orthodox Church claims that such superstitions have no basis.
There is a belief that people who observe strict fasting on this day, including only bread and water in their diet, can make a wish in the evening that will certainly come true. By folk superstition, people suffering from headaches asked this saint for healing.
What should you not do on the religious holiday of September 11th? During this time, believers should not visit entertainment events, look entertainment programs on TV, otherwise fasting is pointless.
You cannot have celebrations, feasts, dance or sing songs. By such actions, people insult the memory of the saint and bring misfortune upon themselves. According to the church charter, it is also forbidden to get married on this day.
In the old days, this day was called the Poletovshchik, Poletok, Turnip Festival, Golovosek, Ivan - autumn market, Ivan-Lenten, Ivan-Lent. There were many weather signs associated with the holiday. It was considered the beginning of autumn, people used to say: “From Ivan’s Fast a man welcomes autumn, a woman begins Indian summer.”
Now you know what kind of Orthodox holiday is celebrated on September 11th. It remains for us to add that many Christian holidays are dedicated to John the Baptist, the most revered saint after the Mother of God:
- October 6 (September 23, old style) – Conception of John the Baptist,
- July 7 (June 24) – Nativity of John the Baptist,
- January 20 (January 7, old style) – Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in connection with the Feast of Epiphany
- March 8 at leap year(February 24, old style) / March 9 in a non-leap year (February 24, old style) – The first and second finding of the head of John the Baptist,
- June 7 (May 25) – the third discovery of his head,
- October 25 (October 12) – the holiday of its transfer right hand from Malta to Gatchina.
John the Baptist is glorified by the Church as “an angel, and an apostle, and a martyr, and a prophet, and a candle-bearer, and a friend of Christ, and a seal of the prophets, and an intercessor of old and new grace, and the most honorable among those born, and bright Words voice".
On September 11, the Orthodox Church remembers the tragic event - the Beheading of the Venerable Head of John the Baptist. In Rus', this holiday is known as Ivan Lenten or Golovosek. It is worth noting that our ancestors did not honor a single saint with such strict fasting as John the Baptist, and the day of his martyrdom was spent in strict abstinence and prayers.
In ancient legends, John the Baptist is revered as a healer of headaches. For this purpose, there is even a special prayer to the saint. It is known that prayerful appeal to the Prophet John helps not only with headaches, but also heals even from severe diseases of the head. In addition, prayers to the saint help to repent, change your way of thinking and comprehend your life.
The beheading of John the Baptist: the history of the holiday
The atrocity committed against the prophet John shocked the hearts of Christians. Because the prophet denounced King Herod Antipas for his lawlessness - cohabitation with Herodias, ex-wife sibling king, Herod imprisoned him. The common people loved John the Baptist and considered him a great prophet, so Herod, despite the requests of Herodias, did not kill him.
In honor of Herod's birthday, a feast was held at which Salome, the daughter of Herodias, so charmed the birthday boy with her dance that he promised to fulfill any of her wishes. At the instigation of her mother, Salome asked to bring her the head of the prophet on a platter. Herod was greatly saddened by such a request, but he could not keep his promise. A guard was sent to the prison, who cut off John's head, and Salome brought it to her mother on a platter. Herodias abused the severed head and threw it into a dirty place. The body of John the Baptist was buried by his disciples in the Samaritan city of Sebastia.
It is believed that the prophet suffered for the truth as a good warrior of the Heavenly Fatherland, for this reason in Orthodox churches On the day of his memory, the soldiers who died defending their homeland are commemorated. Such a commemoration was established in 1769 during the war between Russia and Poland.
Beheading of the Head of John the Baptist: traditions and customs of celebration
In Rus', the last page of the life of John the Baptist was well known, passionately experienced by the people and gave rise to many apocryphal retellings. The names of Salome and Herodias became common nouns for female cunning and deceit. It is no coincidence that the 12 fevers were called the Herodias or daughters of Herod.
The day when the church remembers the death of the prophet through the beheading was celebrated with strict fasting. This fast had its own characteristics: it was forbidden to eat apples, potatoes, onions, cabbage, berries, watermelons, nuts and other products that were round in shape or even vaguely resembling a head.
Nothing was cooked that day. It was considered a sin to pick up a knife and cut anything. Strict ban existed on fun, especially on songs and dances, because it was through singing and dancing that the daughter of Herodias begged for the prophet’s head.
They believed that if you cut a head of cabbage on this day, blood would certainly flow out of it, and if a person ate something round on September 11, he would have a headache all year.
The popular names of the day - “Ivan fasting”, “flying”, “poletovshchik” - reflect not only the need to observe fasting, but also the end of summer and the onset of autumn. The latter resulted in common signs and sayings:
Lenten Ivan came, took away the red summer.
Since Ivan's fast, no man goes out into the field without a caftan.
Ivan the Baptist chases birds beyond the sea.
Lenten Ivan is the godfather of autumn.
It was noted that:
- if by this time the cranes have flown south, then winter will be early;
- starlings do not fly to warmer climes - towards dry autumn;
- On dark evenings, flocks of rooks reach out - signifying good weather.
From this day on, they began to harvest turnips. The peasants celebrated a kind of “turnip festival.” Remembering that it was a fast day, they did not drink anything, did not sing songs or dance, but set tables and treated the poor.
By this time they were trying to remove the hemp: If you don’t choose hemp before Lenten, you will spend the entire fast without oil.. It is worth recalling that before mid-19th centuries in Rus' they did not know sunflower and vegetable oil obtained from hemp and flax seeds. It was used in ordinary and holidays, and especially a lot during Lent.
On Lenten Ivan they collected roots, believing that they had special properties on this day. healing properties. They also believed that September 11 would be activated devilry, witches can walk around villages and beg something from the residents. You cannot give them anything, otherwise you will bring disaster to your home. To prevent the witch from entering the hut, a needle was stuck in the door, and poppies with seeds were buried at the gate or under the threshold.
Video: Beheading of the prophet, forerunner and baptizer of the Lord John
The Church celebrates many Religious holidays. On September 11, Christians of the world who preach Orthodoxy celebrate a great holiday - the Day of the beheading of John the Baptist, one of the closest associates of Jesus Christ. It was he who predicted the appearance of the Son of God, and then performed the ritual of baptism in the sacred waters of the Jordan.
Orthodox holiday September 11th was far from a cause for celebration. But it just so happened in Rus' that not only holidays are celebrated, but also mournful days.
John the Baptist, by order of the ruler of Galilee, was imprisoned. The reason for the ruler’s anger was his public accusation by the Forerunner of adultery. And it was true. Having abandoned his legal wife, the daughter of the king of Arabia, Arethas, he began to openly cohabit with the wife of his blood brother, Herodias. The king's mistress turned out to be a vengeful woman.
At a feast dedicated to Herod's birthday, Herodias danced in front of the guests. And with her dancing she pleased both the king and the guests. Therefore, Herod promised her to fulfill any of her wishes, whatever it may be. Herodias, taught by her mother, asked the king for the head of her offender. Herod could not refuse her request and gave the order to cut off the captive's head and serve it on a platter in the festive hall. Herodias' request was fulfilled - the girl received the head of John the Baptist.
Menu of the day
In memory of such a tragic event, the church established the Orthodox holiday of September 11, as well as strict fasting. It is forbidden to eat meat, dairy products, eggs and fish dishes, i.e. everything is modest. Such strict restrictions are a tribute to the death of John the Baptist.
Traditions
Ivan Lenten (the second name of the holiday) was also celebrated as a “turnip” holiday. After all, from this day the harvesting of turnips began. But you can’t sing and have fun on this day.
September 11 is a major Orthodox holiday, which is celebrated only with Lenten food. On this day, you need to treat the poor and the poor, as well as wandering pilgrims.
The day is very revered among the people. And today it is strictly forbidden to cook food from round vegetables, since they resemble the severed head of a saint. On this day, many things are prohibited. In particular, you cannot harvest cabbage, pick poppy heads, dig potatoes or remove apples from branches.
It is a great sin to take up a knife, an ax and a shovel today.
On the Orthodox holiday of September 11, you can collect roots. On this day, beets and carrots are traditionally harvested because they are fully ripe. But this can be done by reading special prayers. This is the only way to carry out the necessary work and not offend the saint. Without it garden work it was impossible to lead.
The church holiday of St. John of Lent is a turning point in the life habitual for peasants. It became the last day of field work. It was from this day that the preparation of pickles began, which were supposed to feed the family throughout the long winter. On September 11, according to tradition, the opening of the autumn fair trades took place.
After the festive church service ended, it was customary to go to the market. Necessary purchases were made there, and new clothes were also purchased. In the afternoon, life returned to normal for the villagers.
Folk signs
The Orthodox holiday of September 11 - the day of remembrance of John the Baptist - ended the summer. According to the old calendar, it fell on August 29. They said about him that Ivan Lent came and took away the summer.
Particular attention was paid to the behavior of birds, since they were believed to predict the weather. A swan flying across the sky promised snow, but a goose promised rain. The crane wedge flying south promised short autumn and early snow. If the starlings were in no hurry to fly away, then a dry autumn without rain was expected. Flocks of rooks flying almost above the ground predicted good weather.
In September, Orthodox Christians celebrate several more important dates:
- September 14 is the Church New Year.
- September 21 - birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- September 27 is the celebration of the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
According to the canons of the Holy Russian Orthodox Church, September 11, believers pay tribute martyrdom St. John the Baptist and adhere to strict fasting. John the Baptist is revered by the Holy Church to the greatest extent, compared to all the saints, with the only exception being the Mother of God.
What Orthodox holiday is September 11th?
Among all church holidays one of the greatest is the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist, celebrated on September 11 or August 29 according to the old style. The tragic event is described in detail by the evangelists Mark and Matthew. The popular name of the Orthodox holiday is Ivan Lenten, because the church charter requires strict fasting on this day (you cannot eat products of animal origin).
Archpriest Igor Fomin explains the meaning of the holiday of the Beheading of John the Baptist. Despite the fact that the saint parted with this world due to human cruelty, and the perpetrators of the crime remained alive, martyrdom does not cancel the good that John carried during his life. By giving our lives in the name of truth, we make the greatest sacrifice, with the help of which a person conveys his own ideals and faith in the truth to the people. The sacrifice is not in vain, both for John and for each of us.
History of the Orthodox holiday
The good sermons of the Prophet John after the baptism of Jesus Christ were not long, since he soon suffered martyrdom. During the reign of Herod Antipas in Galilee, John denounced the king for committing adultery with the wife of Herod's brother Philip during his lifetime. Herodias, Philip’s legal wife, was angry with John and in every possible way incited the king to kill him, but he was too afraid of the people’s anger. Nevertheless, John the Baptist was put in prison.
About a year has passed since then, and at a feast in honor of Herod’s birthday, the king and his guests were pleased by his stepdaughter, the daughter of Herodias, Salome, with her dancing. He promised her anything for such pleasure, and she decided to take advice from her mother. Being angry with the Baptist, who was still imprisoned, Herodias told her daughter to ask for John's head. Of course, Salome did just that, and Herod could no longer refuse her, for the promise was made publicly, and disgracing himself in front of his people was not in his plans.
A soldier (speculator) was sent to prison to cut off the head of John, after which Salome received it on a platter and carried the head of John the Baptist to her mother. In the year 32, the body of the Holy Baptist was buried by his disciples, and the relics, with the exception of the right hand and head, were burned in 362 along with the Sebaste Temple by decree of Emperor Julian the Apostate. Christians managed to acquire some of the remains of the martyr and transport them to Alexandria, where they are protected to this day as the greatest shrine.
God's providence over the sinful souls of Salome, her mother and Herod was accomplished, but sources differ in the facts.
- According to the first version, King Herod was deprived of his own power at the behest of the Roman emperor and was exiled along with Herodias and her daughter to captivity, where they met the end of their lives.
- According to another version, Herodias, along with Herod, was swallowed alive by the earth, but her daughter died first. In winter, she was making her way across the river on ice, when suddenly it broke and the girl fell under the water. Her body was immediately constrained so that she hung in the water in a dancing form, as she had once danced on land. Soon a blade of ice struck her neck, and the water carried away her corpse. The head was carried away by the current straight into the hands of her mother.
His disciples began to celebrate the day of martyrdom and the beheading of John the Baptist. The Church established the day of September 11 as a great Orthodox holiday, as a demonstration of the boundless grief of Christians over the martyrdom of the great Prophet.
Traditions and customs
Other popular names for this Orthodox holiday include Ivan the Fast, Golovosek, Turnip Feast, Ivan the Flyer, or the Flyer. Everyday superstitions and pagan beliefs had a significant impact on the traditions of the celebration. Numerous christian symbols Over time, they became distorted in the minds of the people, and their meaning became grotesque.
For example, it is prohibited to eat round vegetables and fruits on this day, because they may visually resemble the head of John. Any sharp objects could remind the people of the sword with which the head was cut off, so they were also banned. Bread can only be broken with your hands, but it should not be round. In some regions, red wine and red fruits were previously rejected because they were associated with blood.
Among folk traditions There were also those who were not associated with pagan trends, but rather with the calendar cycle and weather. September 11 was identified with the arrival of autumn, but singing songs and dancing in circles was prohibited. Wanderers and the poor were necessarily invited to dining table. On the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist, Christians not only mourn the Baptist, but also remember the deceased soldiers.
What not to do on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist
Any sharp objects, round-shaped or red-colored products are prohibited on this day. It is forbidden to set a sumptuous table, lead an active lifestyle and rejoice, since it was these actions that led to the tragedy. You cannot perform any actions that could provoke even the slightest association with the martyrdom of the Prophet. Food on this holiday should be no frills, exclusively lean.