Synaxarium

On this day, we commemorate the departure of Pope Anba Kyrillos VI. May his prayers be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever and ever. Amen.

On this day, we commemorate the presence of the head of Saint John the Baptist. It is said that when Herod ordered the beheading of John and to bring his head to him and present it to the girl Herodias on a platter as she requested, after the feast was over, he regretted killing John and kept the head in his house. It happened that Aretas, king of the Arabs and Herod's son-in-law, was angry with him because he had expelled his daughter and married his brother's wife while he was still alive. So he waged war against him to avenge his daughter. Herod was defeated, his soldiers scattered, and the land of Galilee was devastated. When Tiberius Caesar learned that the cause of these wars was Herod's killing of a great prophet among his people, his expulsion of Aretas the Arab's daughter, and his marriage to his brother's wife, he summoned him to Rome along with Herodias. Herod hid the head of Saint John in his house and traveled. When he arrived there, Tiberius ordered his removal from power, confiscation of all his wealth, and exile to the land of Andalusia where he died. His house was destroyed and became a lesson for those who consider. After some years, two believers from Homs intended to spend the Great Lent in Jerusalem. Night came upon them near Herod's house, so they stayed there for the night. Saint John appeared to one of them, told him his name, revealed the location of his head, and ordered him to take it with him to his home. When he awoke, he told his companion, and they went to the place where the saint's head was buried. They dug and found a sealed earthenware vessel. When they opened it, a pleasant fragrance spread, and they found the holy head. They blessed it and returned it to the vessel. The man who had the vision took it to his home, placed it in his cabinet, and lit a lamp before it. When he neared death, he informed his sister, who also kept the lamp lit. The head continued to pass from person to person until it reached an Arian man, who attributed the miracles performed by the head to the heresy of Arius. God then sent upon him expulsion from his place, and the location of the head remained unknown until the time of Saint Kyrillos, Bishop of Jerusalem. Saint John appeared in a dream to Anba Martianos, Bishop of Homs, and guided him to the location of the head. He took it on the thirtieth of the month Amshir. May the prayers of this saint be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever and ever. Amen.