John the Evangelist - John the Baptist (Jean, Giovanni, Jan)

John was born on 24th June.  He died on 29 August through beheading.
He was the "precursor" and prepared the way for Jesus Christ (Luke 1,17)".  It was he who went before the Lord with the power and spirit of Elijah. He was seen as a prophet, and in representations of the prophets he is often placed first.  In the Leg. Aur. he also appears as an angel (Malachi 3,1):  “Behold, I send my angel before me”.  In Eastern Orthodox tradition he is usually represented with large wings.  He is one of the best-known and most widely represented figures of early Christian representations, appearing youthful or bearded, recognizable by his fur clothing, his staff and sword, and disc bearing a lamb or a book, sometimes at his feet.  Sometimes there is a tree-stump with an axe at its roots or a shovel.  The most important event in his life was his being baptised by Jesus Christ who said “This is my dear son in whom I am greatly pleased” or “Today I have fathered him” (the voice of God – holy spirit in the form of a pigeon). 
John is part of both the small and the large intercession and is placed at the centre of the iconostasis.  On the left the Mother of God, at the centre Jesus Christ the Pantocrator, on the right John the Baptist (from the onlooker’s viewpoint).   John lived along the banks of the Jordan, preaching and baptizing, until he was captured by King Herod Antipar and beheaded.  According to legend, his head was found three times and re-buried each time.  His remains were finally cremated by unbelievers in Sebaste, but his relics were rescued (24th June birth - 29th August decapitation)