Life of John the Baptist

The author of this legendary story claims to be Serapion, a bishop who lived in the fourth century AD. It tells about the early life of John the Baptist, especially the death of his mother, Elizabeth.

According to the story, Elizabeth died on the same day as Herod the Great. This happened while the young Jesus was still in Egypt after his parents had taken him there. John, who was also a small boy, did not know how to bury his mother. The clouds bring Jesus, Mary, and Salome, who wash the body. Michael and Gabriel dig the grave and bring the souls of Zacharias and Simeon. After that, John grows up in the desert where angels take care of him. After they had helped John, the clouds lifted Jesus and Mary to bring them to Nazareth, where they lived.

See also Apocrypha; John the Baptist.