ST/JD/24
John the Baptist
- Gender
- Male
- Floruit (period)
- Biblical
- Floruit date range
- ? - ?
- Description
- The ‘forerunner’ of Christ; son of Zachariah and Elizabeth. He preached repentance and baptism on the river Jordan; he baptised Christ. His denunciation of Herod Antipas for his marriage led to his imprisonment and death. The early importance of his cult is testified by his place in the traditional Canon of the Mass.