[[image:John the ForerunnerJohnforerunner.jpg|right|thumb|St John the ForerunerForerunner, the cousin of Christ and last of the last propheteprophets.]]The glorious [[PropheteProphet]] and Forerunner '''John the Baptist''' is also known referred to as "'''John the Forerunner" ''' because he was the '''forerunner of [[Christ]]. He was an [[ascetic]] and great prophet, who [[baptism|baptized]] Christ and became one of the most revered [[saint]]s in the [[Orthodox Church]]. John is a cousin of Christ through his mother [[Elizabeth]] who was the daughter of Zoia. Zoia is the sister of Christ's [[Anna|grandmother]]. He was later beheaded by Herod in the first century to satisfy the request of Herod's stepdaughter, Salome, and wife Herodias. Because he baptized Christ, he is the [[patron saint]] of [[godparent]]s. He is sometimes called the ''Angel of the Desert''; because of this title, he is sometimes depicted with wings.