Today the Church commemorates the Baptism of St. John, the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord. 

The icon of the Holy Forerunner John is preserved in a cell inside the Blessed Paraskevi Ivanovna’s memorial house. It is located in a prominent area of a restored icon corner and an oil lamp is continually lit before it. The icon is an authentic piece that formerly belonged to blessed elder Paraskevi who used to pray in front of it. 

St. John the Forerunner was deeply revered by Diveyevo’s blessed women who considered themselves to be of his kin. Blessed Maria Ivanovna (with a real patronymic name of Zakharovna) was once asked why all known fools for Christ from Diveyevo are known as the ‘Ivanovna’. With an air of importance, she responded: “All of us, the blessed ones, are named ‘Ivanovna’ after St. John the Forerunner.”

The sisters of the monastery gathered today for a prayer before this icon of St. John the Forerunner and chanted the akathist in his honor.