A homily by His Eminence Metropolitan Timothy of Debar and Kichevo, at the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, at Bigorski Monastery, on September 11, 2024, in the year of our Lord.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today we celebrate the feast of the Beheading of the honorable head of the holy and glorious prophet, the Forerunner and Baptist of our Lord, Saint John. On the altar iconostasis, we can see an icon of Saint John depicted with wings. Many of our faithful might wonder, “Why does Saint John have wings?” If we read the Holy Scriptures, we would know that even in the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi foretold the coming of Saint John and referred to him as an angel. These are the words of the Old Testament prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me” (Malachi 3:1). This prophecy refers to Saint John the Baptist, who by God’s providence was appointed to prepare the people for the coming of the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Saint John earned the right to be depicted with wings because he lived an angelic life. He was an angel in the flesh. Few are the saints of God who were as capable of overcoming bodily passions as Saint John. He succeeded in overcoming and removing from himself everything that brings pleasure to a person. People typically delight in good food and drink. Saint John completely subdued this desire in himself. He ate locusts and wild honey and desert herbs. People pay attention to how they dress and enjoy wearing fine clothing. Saint John was clothed in camel’s hair and a leather belt. He had no bed for rest, sleeping instead under the open sky or in a desert cave. While we all strive to look our best, Saint John never used a comb on his hair or beard. This was his vow to God.
We often feel bored when we are alone and always seek company. From a young age, Saint John spent many years in the desert. The desert was his harsh and rugged school, where he managed to free himself from all bodily concerns. His soul was his only care, and God’s will was the only law and master of his soul. Only the great spiritual chosen ones of God, like Saint John the Baptist, could endure life in the desert. In the desert, Saint John renounced all bodily pleasures and so greatly strengthened his spirit that he feared nothing and became a fearless warrior for God’s justice and truth.
Unyielding and strict toward himself, the prophet was equally unyielding toward all who had stained their souls with sin. He did not spare even King Herod when Herod broke the law by marrying his brother Philip’s wife. This condemnation of Herod aroused great hatred toward John from Herodias, Philip’s wife. First, she managed to have him imprisoned, and then she succeeded in having him beheaded. This is how the Gospel describes the prophet’s death. On Herod’s birthday, a feast was held, and Herodias’ daughter danced and entertained Herod and his guests, causing great delight in the king, who promised her that she could ask for anything, even half of his kingdom. But, instructed by her mother, she requested the head of Saint John the Baptist, and her wish was granted. In this way, through his life and martyrdom, Saint John was glorified as a great herald of God’s justice and truth, and he is honored by the entire Christian world.
Saint John the Baptist, with his extraordinary and powerful spirit and his angelically pure life, serves as a great and instructive example for all of us. As ordinary and small people, we can achieve only a little of what the prophet accomplished in the desert. He fasted his entire life, while we are called to fast today, on his feast, and on the days designated for fasting. However, whether we fast or not, we must always be moderate and careful so that our bodily needs do not turn into passions. For if this happens, we are no longer free but become slaves to our bodily desires. A Christian must always remain in control, sober, mindful, and strong in spirit, to overcome temptations and not stray from the path to which the Lord Christ has called him.
May Saint John the Baptist, the angel of God in the flesh, serve as an exceptional example for us, giving us the will and strength to remain vigilant and strong in spirit. May he be our intercessor before the throne of God. Through his prayers, may God strengthen our will and spiritual resolve so that we may persevere on the path of life. Thus, may we preserve our souls for eternal and blessed life, now and forever. Amen.
