Orthodox Christians who observe the Old Calendar on September 11 commemorate the day when the head of the famous prophet John, the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord Jesus Christ, was cut off. Archpriest Octavian Moșin, parish priest of “Meeting the Lord” Church of Chisinau, has told IPN that this is the last great feast of the church year, which ends on September 13, and is a day of black fasting for the Orthodox Christians around the world.

“Today we remember this sad moment when Emperor Herod, at a feast on the occasion of the celebration of his birthday, cut off the head of St. John the Baptist, at the request of Herodias. At that time, St. John was imprisoned in Herod’s castle at Maherus. John had rebuked Herod for his wicked living with Herodias, who was his brother’s wife. In her deathly hatred, Herodias advised Salome, her daughter, who danced and pleased the guests, and especially Herod, to ask him for the head of the Baptist as a reward. At the command of King Herod Antipas, the prophet’s head was cut off and brought on the tray, as Salome had requested. It was placed on a tray and handed to Salome, Herodias’ daughter. John’s disciples took the decapitated body of the Saint and buried it in Sebastia,” said the priest.

The Church urges the Christians to fast strictly, first of all, to be like John, who spent his life in fasting and prayer, and to be different from Herod, who, because of the immeasurable feasting, demanded that Salome dance to him and, as a reward, offered her the head of St. John the Baptist.

“Of course, there are several superstitions related to this day, such as excluding red food, not cutting watermelon and not doing other things, but today is a day of prayer. We are like on a day of mourning, like when someone dear to us dies. We must pray,” noted priest OctavianMoșin.