In the Footsteps of St. John the Forerunner

On this day, the day of the beheading of St. John the Forerunner pray to pray to St. Yevgenii Rodianov, a Russian soldier beheaded by the Chechnyans in 1996. It hasn't happened yet, but the Church of Russia is in the process of declaring him a Saint.

Though the Muslims taunted him and tempted him with earthly life if he would only remove the little Cross that hung from his neck, he would not deny his faith or remove his Cross in order to save himself. He imitated St. John the Forerunner in his fervent devotion to God’s Truth, and also in the manner of his death as a faithful witness. He was 19 years old.

St. Yevgenii, well-pleased unto God, intercede before Him that our souls may be saved!