Agios Ioannis Prodromos

Lithograph image of Saint John the Baptist.
The last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. He is called “Forerunner” because he signaled the coming of Jesus Christ and “Baptist” because he baptized Him.The baptism of the Forerunner was a symbolic act of cleansing those who went to him to confess, but it was also the type of the baptism of Jesus Christ, which is why John said: “I baptized you in water, let him baptize you in Holy Spirit” (Mark 8).
John (a Greekized form of the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning “for God’s grace”) was miraculously born to the priest Zacharias and Elizabeth. He was related to Jesus Christ on his mother’s side and only six months older than him.
He lived an ascetic life in the desert and did not hesitate to check directly and directly the injustice and moral status of the people of his time.This caused him to be arrested and imprisoned by the toparch of Judea, Herod Antipas, who was illegally cohabiting with Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Herodias convinced her daughter Salome to ask for the “head of John on a table” (Mark v25) as a birthday present and Herod Antipas to please her ordered the beheading of John. John the Forerunner and Baptist is one of the most popular saints in Hellas.He is considered the patron and guardian of the piggy bank and those suffering from malaria. His name is one of the most common baptismal names and is a derivative of many surnames. A large number of churches and chapels bear his name, as well as hundreds of settlements. His memory is celebrated on January 7 of each year.

Absolutely
A righteous memory with praises; and the testimony of the Lord’s Forerunner is not enough for you; indeed, you have shown yourself to be more respected than the Prophets, that even in the kennels you baptize the one who is preached. Because of the truth that excelled, I joyfully evangelize those in Hades, God manifested in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world, and granting us the great mercy.