Armenian Church celebrates Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Today, January 15, the Armenian Church celebrates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (also known as St. John the Forerunner).

The birth of St. John the Baptist is described in detail in Luke 1:5-25.

One day Zechariah, father of St. John the Baptist, was on duty in the Temple and was burning incense on the altar when an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said that his prayer had been heard and his wife would bear him a son. Zechariah had to name him John. Zechariah did not believe the angel, as both he and his wife were old. Because he did not believe the angel, he became unable to speak and remained silent until the birth of John.

St. John the Baptist, who should baptize the Savior, had been aware of and rejoiced for the birth of Jesus even before his birth. According to the Evangelist, when St. Mary, Holy Mother of God, visited Elizabeth, mother of St John the Baptist, the latter, being filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out, “Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness” (Luke 1:43-44).

The continuation of the words of Elizabeth is the message of this feast addressed to all Christians throughout the world, “How happy you are to believe that the Lord’s message to you will come true!” (Luke 1:45).