Synaxar – The Church originally decided that the day after the Holy Epiphany, the Council of the honorable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John should be celebrated. For it was fitting to pay homage to the one who administered the mystery of divine baptism by laying his hand on the head of the Lord. Therefore, immediately after the Baptism of the Lord, the Baptist is celebrated and celebrated with hymns in congregation. And it is called a council because people gather in church to sing and glorify God in honor and praise of the celebrated great John, the Forerunner and Baptist. And such a council was held in all churches in the world, and is still held today. But this holiday is celebrated especially solemnly in temples dedicated to the Baptist, such as: the temple on the Jordan, where he baptized the Lord Christ; the temple in Sebaste, where he was cut off by Herod; the temple in Antioch, where the Holy Evangelist Luke brought his right hand; and in Constantinople, where that holy hand was transferred from Antioch. This holiday was especially celebrated in Constantinople, when this hand was transferred. And this happened on the eve of the holy Epiphany, when the consecration of water is performed. And it seemed then as if the Holy Baptist himself had come invisibly to the consecration of the water. It was a great joy for both the emperor and the whole people. And with great solemnity they celebrated the Council of the Baptists the day after the Epiphany.
Let us also celebrate with spiritual joy the Council of the Holy Great John, the Forerunner and Baptist, asking him to pray for us to the Lord Christ, that we may also gather in the heavenly Church, in the temple not made with hands, eternal in heaven, and that there we may hear the voice of those who celebrate, and that with them we may celebrate the eternal Epiphany, delighting with them in beholding the face of God, who clearly shows Himself to His saints, and glorifying with all the heavenly choirs the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever, amen.
The story of the hand that baptized the Lord
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