Join us for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on the Feast of the Decollation of Saint John the Baptist. The Rector, T.J. Freeman, will preach.

The Commemoration of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist is observed on August 29. John preached repentance from sins, and although it made him unpopular in his day, he followed the way of the prophets and preached the commandments of God before men. John the Baptist was arrested and imprisoned for speaking out against the unlawful relationship between Herod and Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

Herod didn’t immediately put John to death; he feared the reaction of the crowd, who regarded him as a prophet.

However, on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the party. Her dancing was so pleasing that the ruler promised to grant her whatever she might ask. Herodias prompted, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” Herod was grieved, but out of regard for his oath and his guests, he had John beheaded and the head brought to the girl on a platter.

This observance reminds us to speak God’s truth with boldness and hear with humility when it is spoken to us, through Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead.