Annually , on 20th February , people honour the memory the one who served the roots of the Christ Epiphany, lying his hands on the head of the Saviour.
Holy Forerunner John the Baptist of our Lord, he is the greatest prophet he finished the history of the Old Testament Church and opened the New Testament. St. John the Prophet testified about coming onto earth of the only begotten Son of God in human flesh. He baptised him in the Jordan River and testified phenomenon of the Holy Trinity of that very Epiphany day.
Cathedral Forerunner and Baptist John
Prophet John was the son of the priest Zacharias and Righteous Elizabeth, he was born six months before Jesus.
Messenger of his birth was the Archangel Gabriel, saying his father in the temple, that he would have a son.
At the age of 30 years, St. John came to preach for confession. He came to the river Jordan, preaching to prepare the people to accept the Saviour of the world. John, referring to church hymns, was as "Morning Star". Soon after the Epiphany of Christ, John fell by the sword, by the order of King Herod.
The cycle of the winter holidays ends with the day of St. John the Baptist. It is a day of joy, who does not express joy and celebrate this day – will be sad all year. John the Baptist is the saint patron of all children.
According to popular tradition on this day women do not pay any attention to the men, even can leave them hungry. On the night of St. John's women gather together and walk all night. Some women went from home to home and sprinkled with water all people whom they met.
In Bukovina, there is a nice tradition of “watering Ions” (in Moldovan language Johns). All young people named John or Ion march through the village to the river, where they are purified through bathing. Then they organize a holiday with fiddlers and install a dressed up fir tree at the gates.
