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John the Baptist (24.6.) John the Baptist, son of Zaccariah and Elizabeth was born about six months before Jesus. Miraculous events before and after his birth foretold that God would have endowed him with exceptional virtues. Around the year 28 or 29 John the Baptist, then aged 30, was called by God to baptize the jewish people and announce the coming of the Messiah. He preached in the desert, on the banks of the Jordan and in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem. He was an able preacher and led an ascetic life and the crowds flocked to listen to him. Although he knew the sect of the Essen well he was never part of their community. When Jesus asked to be baptized, John recognized him as the Messiah and, in front of the crowd, admitted that he was not worthy of baptizing him. John the Baptist publicly condemned the dissolute life led by King Herod Antipa and was thus imprisoned; Herodias managed to obtain from the king a death sentence for John who was then beheaded. He was venerated ever since the early days of christianity, many customs are tied to his memory, Jesus said of him he was „the best man born of woman“. He is the patron saint of shepherds, weavers, dyers, tanners, furriers, dressmakers and tailors, saddle makers, peasants, vintners, hoteliers, barrel makers, musicians, singers and dancers, architects, stone masons, brick-layers, carpenters, chimneysweeps, blacksmiths; he is the protector of lambs, sheep, domestic animals and pets, vines; he protects from cramps, giddyness, children’s illnesses, fear and hail.