The date February 24 in Eastern Orthodox liturgics refers to the commemoration of saints and events observed on the twenty-fourth day of February according to the liturgical calendar of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is important to note that for churches following the Revised Julian (New) Calendar, this date aligns with February 24 of the civil Gregorian calendar. However, for churches adhering to the Julian (Old) Calendar, February 24 on their ecclesiastical calendar corresponds to March 9 of the civil Gregorian calendar.
The primary and most significant commemoration on this day is:
- The First and Second Finding of the Honorable Head of Saint John the Forerunner (Baptist): This major feast commemorates two distinct historical events related to the discovery of the holy head of Saint John the Baptist after his martyrdom.
- First Finding: After Saint John the Forerunner was beheaded at the command of Herod Antipas, at the instigation of Herodias and her daughter Salome, his head was presented to Salome and then, by Herodias, discarded in a dishonorable place outside the city walls. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, secretly retrieved the head and buried it with reverence in an earthenware jar on the Mount of Olives.
- Second Finding: Centuries later, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II (early 5th century), the holy head was rediscovered. This occurred when a certain Innocent, a wealthy man, embraced monasticism and began constructing a church on his property on the Mount of Olives, unaware that the relic was buried there. During the excavation for the foundations, the earthenware jar containing the head was found. It was then translated from Jerusalem to Emesa (modern-day Homs in Syria) and later, during the reign of Emperor Michael III and Empress Theodora (9th century), it was brought to Constantinople.
Other saints commemorated on this day may include:
- Saint Erasmus of the Kiev Caves, who was a monk and wonderworker.
- Martyr Tarsia, a female martyr.
- Venerable Anthusa (Anthousa) of Constantinople, a nun.
Liturgical Observance: This feast is an important day in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, marked by special services, hymns, and scripture readings dedicated to Saint John the Forerunner. The services typically include the Divine Liturgy, with specific propers (troparia, kontakia, and designated readings from the Epistles and Gospels) assigned for the feast. The hymns often praise Saint John for his ascetic life, his pivotal role as the Baptizer of Christ, and the miraculous and providential nature of the finding of his holy relic, which ensures its veneration by the faithful. The veneration of icons depicting Saint John the Forerunner is also a prominent part of the observance.