On Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th of September, the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy were served in St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC in honor of the parish’s patronal feast day – the Beheading of the Holy Prophet and Forerunner of the Lord John. The Washington cathedral is one of only several in the world consecrated in honor of this feast. The church keeps a reliquary with a piece of the head of St. John the Baptist, which is brought out for veneration by the faithful. The feast was led by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. His Eminence was co-served by Metropolitan Jonah and cathedral clergy: Priests John Johnson, Alexander Resnikoff, Victor Klimenko, and Damian Dantinne; Protodeacons Leonid Mickle and Patrick Mitchell; and Deacons John Dean and Gregory Trubetskoy, as well as Orthodox clergy from the Greater Washington region, of the Greek, Antiochian, Moscow Patriarchate, and OCA jurisdictions, who gather monthly at one of the parishes of the American capital to discuss pressing issues facing the Church.

On September 11, the very day of the feast, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the faithful with a sermon upon completion of Liturgy. His Eminence called the day of St. John the Forerunner’s beheading tragic, while the prophet’s life was remarkable and worthy of emulation by Christians. The First Hierarch reminded the faithful of the life and labors of the saint, who appeared on the earth thanks to the fervent prayers of his elderly parents – the Righteous Zacharias and Elizabeth; who lived as an ascetic in the Judean desert and began his preaching on the River Jordan, where the Prophet Elijah lived and from whence he had been carried up into Heaven. He was sent to prepare the way for Christ the Savior, to prepare the souls and hearts of the people, that they might accept the news of salvation. "The Prophet John reminded the people of their sins and called on them to be cleansed through repentance," said Metropolitan Hilarion. "The people confessed their sins and vices, and he baptized them in the waters of the Jordan. His calls to repentance were so powerful, that people thought that this, maybe, was the Prophet Elijah or the Messiah Himself. But John the Baptist never ceased telling the people that "One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Luke 3:16). With these words, John answered the secret thoughts of the crowd, and clearly bore witness that he was not the Christ, but only a servant and Forerunner of the Savior of the world."

Keeping before us the example of the Prophet & Forerunner John, Metropolitan Hilarion called on the faithful to place humility and love above all in life, because these two virtues cover even the gravest sins, lead to salvation, and help us enter into the Heavenly Kingdom.

On that day, a multitude of the faithful communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of Liturgy, a moleben was served to St. John the Baptist, followed by a procession around the church, during which cathedral rector Archpriest Victor Potapov – still recovering from serious illness – joined serving clergy.

On Sunday, September 13, the Divine Liturgy was also served in the cathedral, and the celebration of the lesser namesday was held. Festal luncheons were prepared for the clergy and parishioners of by the cathedral sisterhood (led by Marina Zacharin) on the day of the feast and on Sunday. During the luncheons, the faithful had a good opportunity to interact with the hierarch, the clergy, and one another.