Head of John the Baptist Badge

John the Baptist was a 1st-century itinerant preacher who baptized people in the River Jordan. According to Gospel accounts, Jesus came to be baptized and was recognized by John as the messiah whose prophet he was. In some accounts, which were elaborated over time, he is a relative of Jesus, perhaps a second cousin. John’s life came to a violent end: he was beheaded by Herod Antipas around 30 CE after John criticized his divorcing his own wife to marry his brother’s.

During the Fourth Crusade, a relic identified as part of John’s head was purportedly found in Constantinople. This facial section of a skull was delivered in 1206 to the bishop of Amiens, who recognized it as a powerful focus for devotion. The construction of Amiens Cathedral began in 1220. It was an important pilgrimage site until the French Revolution. There are numerous medieval pilgrim signs from Amiens featuring John’s head or face – although with skin as in life.

John is the patron saint of lambs, preachers,  converts, and the monastic life for reasons closely related to his story. Like other popular saints, he has also come to be associated with other supplicants, including farriers, innkeepers, printers, and tailors (and is modernly connected with motorways). He was invoked against epilepsy and hailstorms.

John has two feast days:
June 24, for his birth
August 29 for his beheading.