The Dissection of the Sacred Head of Saint John in Mesotopus Pangaeustranslated

On Saturday, August 29, 2026, commemoration of the Dissection of the Holy Head of the Holy Forerunner, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Eleftheroupolis Mr. Chrysostomos celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the celebrating Parish Church of the Holy Forerunner Mesotopos, flanked by priests of the Metropolis.

His Eminence, according to the divine word, initially referred to the special position that the Holy Forerunner holds in the life and worship of our Church and to the special honor that is given to his person throughout the ecclesiastical year. As he pointed out, Saint John was given the highest honor by God to become the Forerunner and Baptist of our Lord Jesus Christ, placing his hands on the immaculate summit of the Despot Christ. At the same time, he pointed out the deep humiliation of the Saint, who considered himself unworthy to baptize the Lord and confessed that he himself needed to be baptized by Him.

Then His Holiness referred to the martyrdom of the Holy Forerunner, underlining that Saint John was not only the preacher of repentance, the Forerunner who prepared the people to receive Christ and the Baptist of the Lord, but also the first martyr who...