Perhaps you’ve heard the name Johannes der Täufer. He is also known as John the Baptist. Johannes der Täufer is a very popular saint in the Christian church.
Johannes der Täufer, in Latin Johannes Baptista, was a biblical figure. He was the forerunner of Christ. He paved the way for Christ. He preached an ascetic life. He baptized people for the expected salvation. Johannes der Täufer baptized Christ in the Jordan River.
Prince Herodes Antipas had Johannes der Täufer beheaded. This was at the urging of Herodias and her daughter Salome. Johannes’ head was presented to Herodes on a dish. Many baptismal churches and chapels are dedicated to him.
In art, Johannes der Täufer is shown bearded. He often wears animal skin. The baptism of Christ is a popular image. In the Middle Ages, people made “Johannes dishes” with his head.
Saint John’s Day is on June 24th. Until the 16th century, it celebrated the solstice. This was a festive occasion with bonfires. In medieval Vienna, the council had a solemn ride around the city.
The knightly order of the Johanniter has Johannes der Täufer as its patron. Their church is in Kärntner Straße. It is called Malteserkirche.
Johannes der Täufer was the patron of the “Capella speciosa”. It was in the Babenberg residence in Klosterneuburg. It was demolished in 1799. Remains are in the Franzensburg in Laxenburg. He was also patron of the chapel in the Babenberg palace Am Hof. It later became the Münzhof. In 1386, it made way for the Carmelite monastery.
The Klosterkirche der Barmherzigen Brüder is dedicated to Johannes der Täufer. The Pfarrkiche Hasenleiten too. Also, the Rodauner Bergkirche and Unterlaaer Kirche. The Kahlenbergerdorfer Church was also originally dedicated to him. Now it is dedicated to Saint George.
Johannes der Täufer is the patron saint of stone guilds. These are the Freemasons. The Johannistag is a festival for the Johannis lodges of Freemasonry. Johannes der Täufer is the patron of builders.
The founding of the Grand Lodge of London took place on his feast day in 1717. The Johannisfest on June 24th celebrates his birth. Some German lodges celebrate the Winter Johannisfest on December 27th.
The symbol of Johannes der Täufer has Freemason origins. It features two parallel lines touching a circle. American lodges see the parallel lines as John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.
The Koran mentions Johannes as Yahya. It says Zacharias received news of his son’s birth from angels. The Koran says Johannes had wisdom as a child. It reports Johannes ate with wild animals. He feared contact with people. He wept often. He said the bridge between hell and paradise could only be crossed with tears.
Devotees revere the Johannisschüssel to relieve headaches in hospitals. In Ireland, they knew him as Searbhain the Bitter-tongued. Cill Searbhain is a church on the Kilsharvan cemetery.
Several places claim to have Johannes’s head. These include the church in Rome and the cathedral in Amiens. Also, the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus and a church in Madaba.
In 2010, a reliquary was found in a monastery. It had an inscription of Johannes der Täufer. It contained teeth, hand, and foot bones. Scientists dated them to the first century AD. These relics are now in Sosopol. Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace has a golden arm reliquary. It claims to hold Johannes’s right forearm bones.
Johannes der Täufer’s story has inspired much art and music. Oscar Wilde wrote “Salome”. Richard Strauss composed an opera of the same name. Gustave Flaubert wrote “Herodias.” Daniel Bollius created a musical work about Johannes’s birth.
Johannes der Täufer remains a powerful figure. He is a symbol of faith. His story continues to inspire.