Saint John is the Forerunner of Jesus, baptising him in the Jordan River which began Jesus' formal ministry. Saint John is the patron of many things, including monastic life, converts, printers and tailors.

St. John the Baptist was the son of Zachary, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, and Elizabeth, a kinswoman of Mary who visited her. He was probably born at Ain-Karim southwest of Jerusalem after the Angel Gabriel had told Zachary that his wife would bear a child even though she was an old woman. He lived as a hermit in the desert of Judea until about A.D. 27.