The evangelists Matthew and Mark narrate this event (chapter 6, vv. 17-29) (Mark 6:17-29).
Matthew, ch. 14, art. 3-12 (Matthew 14:3-12), according to the Russian translation: Herod (the king), taking John, tied him up and put him in prison for Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; because John said to him: You must not have it. And he wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the people; because he was revered as a prophet. During the celebration of Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the congregation and pleased Herod. Therefore, he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. She, at the instigation of her mother, said: Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter. And the king was sad; but, for the sake of the oath and those reclining with him, he ordered it to be given to her. And he sent to cut off John’s head in prison. And they brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl; and she took it to her mother. His disciples came and took his body and buried it.
Troparion.
The memory of the righteous is with praise, but the testimony of the Lord is sufficient for you, Forerunner: for you have shown that you are truly the most honorable of the prophets, as if you were worthy to baptize the One who was preached in the streams. Moreover, having suffered for the truth, rejoicing, you preached the gospel to those in hell of God revealed in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and giving us great mercy.
The memory of the righteous is honored with praise: for you, Forerunner of Christ, the testimony of the Lord about you is enough. For you have shown yourself to be truly more glorious than the prophets, because you were deemed worthy to baptize in the streams (of the Jordan) the One who was foretold by the prophets. Then, having joyfully suffered for the truth, you preached to those in hell about God who had appeared in the flesh, who took upon Himself the sins of the world and bestowed upon us great mercies.
Kontakion.
The forerunner's glorious beheading, a certain Divine sight, and the coming of the Savior to those in hell. Let Herodia weep, having asked for lawless murder: for he did not love the law of God, nor the living age, but a feigned, temporary one.
The glorious beheading of the Forerunner took place at some discretion of God, so that He might preach to those in hell the coming of the Savior to earth. May Herodias, who asked for the lawless murder, weep; for she did not love the law of God, nor the true life of the next century, but the temporary and fleeting life.
Greatness.
We magnify you, John the Baptist of the Savior, and honor all your honorable beheading.
Since on this day people once forgot about truth and conscience amid the feast, the Church established fasting on August 29th as a reminder so that we observe the purity of our souls among joys and amusements.
The features of the Divine Service of this day include the commemoration of Orthodox soldiers killed in battle for their faith and fatherland, performed after the liturgy.