Life of Saint John the Baptist (Sinai) Icon - S503

This icon depicts scenes from the life of Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist.

In the first panel, John's father Zachariah the High Priest receives the word of an angel that he would have a son, after which he was struck mute because of his unbelief. In the second panel, John is born to his mother Elizabeth, and Zachariah writes his name, John. In the third panel, John and Elizabeth flee from the soldiers who were sent to kill Christ, and John is taken under the care of an angel after his mother's death.

In the fourth panel, John is now an adult, and standing before Herod, he condemns the king's twisted lust. For this, John was beheaded, as we see in the fifth panel. Finally, in the sixth panel, Herodias presents Herod with John's head on a platter, soon after which Herod died a pitiful death.

The ancient icon comes from the vast treasures of Mount Sinai.