August 20

S. V. Bulgakov, Handbook for Church Servers

February 24

Z. First and Second Finding of the Honorable Head of John the Forerunner

Hidden by Herodias (see Jan. 7) in a dishonorable place, the head of the Forerunner was secretly taken by the god-fearing Joanna (see June 27) whoburied it in a vessel on the Mount of Olives. Later, one god-fearing devotee, digging a trench for the foundation of a temple found this treasureand kept it for himself, and before his death fearing the desecration ofthe relic by unbelievers he hid it in the ground in the same place, where it was found. During the reign of Constantine the Great, two monks cameto Jerusalem to venerate the tomb of the Lord, and John the Forerunner appeared to one of them and led him to the known place to dig out his holyhead. From that time began the celebration of the first finding of the head of the Forerunner. Returning home, the monks traveled with one potterfrom the city of Emesa and, with levity and doubt, transferred the holy saint to him to carry. With the holy head being in his house, the potter was enhanced with every good of worldly happiness and well-being. Before his death he transferred the head of the Forerunner to his sister for protection; then, the head of the Forerunner passed from one to another, until it reached the monk Eustathius the Arian, who hid the head of the saint in a cave near Emesa. Later, by the will of God, a monastery was founded on this place, and the Archimandrite Marcellus in the year 452, throughthe revelation of God, found the honorable head for the second time, which then was transferred to Chalcedon, and from there, during the reign ofTheodosius the Great, to Constantinople.

Troparion, tone 4 The head of the Forerunner has shone from the earth,

Sending forth rays of incorruption and healing to the faithful.

It gathers together a multitude of angels above,

And summons the human race below, //

To send up glory with one voice to Christ our God.

(Text translation: OCA Rubrics Appendix 1999)

Kontakion, tone 2 O Prophet of God and Forerunner of Grace,

Your head has blossomed from the earth as a sacred rose.

We are ever being healed, //

For as of old, you preach repentance to the world!

(Text translation: Holy Myrrh-bearing Women Monastery)

Paramoeas. 1) Ex. 40:1-3, 9; 41:17-18; 45:8; 48:20-21; 54:1. 2) Malachi 3:1-2, 5-7, 12, 17; 4:4-6. 3) Wis. 4:7, 16, 17, 19, 20; 5:1-7. Matins Gospel Luke 7:17-30; sel. 31. Epistle 2 Cor. 4:6-15; sel. 176. Gospel Mt. 11:2-15; sel. 40.

Note the chapter in the Ustav (Rubrics) and the Menaion. If the Finding of the Head of John the Forerunner falls: 1) on the Sunday of Meatfare or Cheesefare; 2) on the Saturday of Meatfare (we sing the service to the Forerunner on Friday of Meatfare); 3) on the Monday, or Tuesday of Cheesefare; 4) on the Wednesday of Cheesefare (we sing the service to him on Tuesday of Cheesefare); 5) on Friday of Cheesefare (we sing the service on Thursday); 6) on Thursday of Cheesefare; 7) on the Saturday of Cheesefare; 8) on the Monday of the first week of Great Lent (the service is sung on the Sunday of Cheesefare); 9) on any day of the first week of Great Lent (the service is either sung on the Sunday of Cheesefare or on the first Sunday of Great Lent); 10) on the Saturday of the first week of Great Lent; 11) on the first Sunday of Great Lent; 12) on the Monday of the second,third, or fourth weeks of Great Lent; 13) on other days of Great Lent; 14) on the Saturday of the second and third week of Great Lent; 15) on thesecond Sunday of Great Lent; 16) on the third Sunday of Great Lent.

Venerable Erasmus of the Kiev Caves He was tonsured in the twelfth century in the Kiev Caves Monastery, and he used all his estate for its adornment. The Mother of God announced to him three days before about his death. His relics are in the caves where the Venerable Anthony reposes.

The finding of the relics of Prince Roman of Uglich. See February 3.

S. V. Bulgakov, Handbook for Church Servers, 2nd ed., 1274 pp. (Kharkov, 1900) pp. 0094-0095

Translated by Archpriest Eugene D. Tarris =A9 January 29,2002. All rights reserved.

S. V. Bulgakov, Handbook for Church Servers, 2nd ed., 1274 pp., (Kharkov, 1900), pp 290-1. Translated by Archpriest Eugene D. Tarris (c) 7/28/2001. All rights reserved.

Troparion and Kontakion take from the Menologian for windows

Posted with Permission from the Translator