To the Forerunner and Baptist of Christ John, preacher of repentance! You were innocently imprisoned: I, having been thrown into this misadventure, worthy of my deed, I accept, as a criminal of truth and law. Instill in my heart a feeling of repentance for my sins! There is not a single malice or lawlessness that I, the accursed one, have committed; my sins are terrible. Teacher of truth! teach me the right to speak about myself before the judges. Do not cease to denounce the lawless Herod in prison, grant me, so that my conscience convicts me most of all here, so that from its denunciation I will not be able to hide mine for too long crime. If I am condemned to suffer punishment, grant me to be patient, just as you yourself patiently bore the beheading of your head, desired by Herodias. Hey, the Baptist of Christ! Stretch out to me, your servant, the hand that baptized Christ my Savior, so that you may bring me out of the depths of destruction.
You are the greatest among all those born of women, you are the first according to the Mother of God, the righteous among men. For this reason I am running to you, because I need a great intercessor, for I am a great sinner. For now, may your grace, O Forerunner of the Lord, overshadow me, unworthy.