John the Baptist's birth was announced by Angel Gabriel to his father Zachariah. John was the son of the priest Zachariah and of Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary, Mother of Jesus. John’s last name, Baptist, comes for preaching the baptism of penance. One day, on the bank of the Jordan River, Jesus approached to be baptized by John. While John was baptizing Jesus, a white dove descended from heaven and a voice proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God. From that moment John announced to everyone that Jesus was the Messiah. The birth of John the Baptist is celebrated on June 24.
