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In Search Of... Season 4 # 20, JOHN THE BAPTIST
From Rome to Damascus, from Florence
to Samaria, fragments believed to be scattered remains of John have been worshiped
throughout the centuries. A remote Egyptian monastery of the Coptic Church holds
a mysterious link to John the Baptist: His grave.
John performed ritual bathing as a sign of repentance. This became known as
baptisms. King Herod listened to John's preaching, but the queen arranged for
John's beheading. Is it possible the remains have been smuggled to Egypt? In
the Egypt monastery still practices are performed as they were done by John
the Baptist. From mouth to mouth a story is repeated for 80 generations by
now: The remains of John the Baptist have been brought here. During repairs
and enlargement of the monastery skeletons have been found – buried apart from
all other burial places.
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