St. John the Baptist the precursor angel of the desert

In the Orthodox Church St. John the Baptist ranks first in importance among the saints after the Virgin Mother of God. As last Prophet Messenger the iconography represents him winged. In this composition various episodes of this life are depicted around him. To the left, two apocryphal scenes: an angel talking to him during childhood and birth. To the right beheading of St. John and the presentation of the head by Salome.