Beloved in the Lord, Reverend Archpastors! Honorable fathers, dear brothers and sisters!
On this day, the Holy Church commemorates the event of the Severing of the Honorable Head of St. John the Baptist, and offers us the Gospel reading on two kinds of faithfulness—to goodness, and to evil. The Forerunner was faithful to God and did not renounce Him even in the face of death. Herod was also faithful—not to the Lord, but to his insane promise. In order to maintain his authority in the eyes of his peers at the table, he had to keep his reckless word. Of course, the king was grieved by Herodias’s evil desire to murder the prophet, because he honored John as a saint. But because his mind was fogged by alcoholic beverages, he nevertheless gave the terrible command.
Wine is made to make men glad, but bitterness comes when it is drunk in excess, says the wise Jesus, son of Sirach (Sir. 31:32–34). Only with a sober mind are we able to distinguish truth from falsehood, make sound decisions, struggle against the passions, and resist temptations—to do all that we are called to as Christians.
In order to remind people of the necessity of always having clear thoughts, a kind heart, and good will, the Russian Orthodox Church has established the Day of Sobriety on the feast of the Severing of the Honorable Head of St. John the Baptist. It is wonderful to hear that in recent years, alcohol and tobacco use has gone down in our country. However, newer and more dangerous substances are appearing, which have a negative effect on the consciousness and distort our perception of reality. Let us always remember that it is impossible to stand up to these serious challenges of modernity without restraint from vices and passions, without daily work on ourselves.
Through the prayers of St. John the Forerunner, may the Merciful Lord help us to awake to righteousness,[1] and sin not (1 Cor. 15:34).
+KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA
