View source for Third Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner

[[Image:John the forerunner head.jpg|frame|right|Head of St. John the Forerunner]]
The '''Third Finding of the Head of St. John the Forerunner''' is commemorated on [[May 25]].

==Finding==
The third discovery of the venerable head of the Holy [[Prophet]], [[John the Forerunner| Forerunner and Baptist John]] occurred in about the year 850.  The head of St. John the Forerunner was found in the city of Emesia during a time of unrest at Constantinople connected with the exile of St. [[John Chrysostom]].

In about 820 the head was transferred to Komana during the [[Islam|Saracen]] raids, and it was hidden in the ground during a period of [[iconoclasm|iconoclastic]] persecution. When the [[veneration]] of [[icons]] was restored, Patriarch [[Ignatius]] (847-857) saw in a vision the place where the head of St. John was hidden. The [[patriarch]] informed the emperor, who sent the delegation that found the head.

The head was transferred to Constantinople, and on May 25 it was placed in a church at the court. Part of the head is on [[Mount Athos|Mt. Athos]]. 

The account of the first and second discoveries of the head of St. John the Forerunner are remembered by the Church on [[February 24]].

==Hymns==
[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 4) [http://www.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?SID=13&ID=101531]
:As a divine treasure hidden in the ground
:Was your head revealed to us by Christ, O prophet and forerunner.
:We have gathered in commemoration of this finding
:With inspired hymns of praise to the Savior,
:Who saves us from corruption through your prayers!

[[Kontakion]] (Tone 4) [http://www.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?SID=13&ID=101531]
:By giving your venerable head to a sinful woman,
:Herod broke the law of God.
:But we behold it and cry out for joy,
:And say to you, O forerunner:
:Pray to the Lord that He may grant mercy to us all!

==Source==
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=101531 Third Finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John] ([[OCA]])

==External links==
*[https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=66 Third Finding of the Precious Head of St. John the Baptist] ([[GOARCH]])
*[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=May&day=25 The Third Finding of the Head of John the Baptist] (''[[Prologue of Ohrid]]'')

[[Category:Feasts]]