Iberian Orthodox Icon of the Glorious Forerunner

St. John the Forerunner Please do not deep-link to any of our icons.

August 29th
Troparion (Tone 2)
The memory of the just is mentioned with praise. As for you, O Forerunner, the Lord's witness is enough: indeed, you were greater than the prophets since you were found worthy to baptize in the waters the one they could but announce. You have fought for the sake of truth and proclaimed to those in Hades that God who appeared in the flesh has taken away the sins of the world and bestowed his great mercy upon us.

John was the son of Zachariah, a Temple priest, and his wife, Elizabeth, the cousin of the Theotokos. He was born when his parents were advanced in years, after a prophecy by an angel. He lived an ascetical life in the wilderness as an Old Testament Prophet, and he preached a message of repentance and of preparation for the coming of the Messiah and his Kingdom. He is portrayed in deisis, that is in a position of intercessory prayer to Christ. Chist's hand of blessing appears from heaven.

This Icon is 12th Century Georgian. It is part of a set of three small cloisonne' enamel on gold icons, surrounded with pearls on the top of the Khakhuli Triptych icon of the Theotokos. The other two in the set are Christ Enthroned and The Theotokos in Deisis. Inscription in Greek.

Order # pdi-10