Baptismal Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Krylatskoye
The Baptismal Church of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Krylatskoye is located at Krylatsky Hills St., the territory of the park reserve. The Prophet John the Baptist (the Forerunner) is one of the most revered saints after the Virgin Mary. Seven holidays (according to the new style) are associated with his name. John was the son of the priest Zachariah (from the family of Aaron) and the righteous Elizabeth (from the family of King David). His parents lived in the Mountainous Country, south of Jerusalem. He was a relative of the Lord Jesus Christ and was born six months before Him. Archangel Gabriel announced to Zachariah the birth of a son, whom the couple prayed for. By God’s providence, John escaped death among the infants killed in Bethlehem. He grew up in the desert, preparing himself for service by a strict life of fasting and prayer. At the age of thirty, he began preaching to the people, calling for repentance and baptism for the remission of sins. His mission was to prepare people for the acceptance of Christ. When Jesus Christ came to be baptized, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and the voice of God the Father rang out: “This is my beloved Son…” Having received a revelation about Christ, the prophet pointed to Him as the Lamb of God. After that, two of his disciples, John (the Theologian) and Andrew (the First–called), followed the Savior. John severely rebuked the sins of people, including the ruler Herod Antipas, for which he was imprisoned. During a feast in honor of Herod’s birthday, Salome, the daughter of Herodias, pleased the king by dancing. At her mother’s instigation, she asked for the head of John the Baptist. Herod, not wanting to break his oath, ordered the execution of the prophet. His disciples buried his body in Sebaste. In 38 A.D., Herod was defeated in battle and then exiled by the Roman Emperor Caligula. According to legend, the evangelist Luke took part of the relics of the prophet to Antioch – his right hand. In 959, under Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, it was moved to Constantinople. Later it was kept in St. Petersburg, in the Church of the Holy Savior in the Winter Palace.
Address: Moscow, Krylatsky Hills St., 12, p. 2
