Today marks the birth of John the Baptist, the Jewish preacher who baptised Jesus in the Jordan River.

The official feast is called the Nativity of St John the Baptist.

The date for St John’s was moved to June 24 because it is said that St John the Baptist is six months older than Jesus Christ. He was a preacher of repentance and is considered the last relevant one of Jesus’s disciples by the Christian Church.

St John is the only saint (besides Mary and Jesus) whose birthday is a feast day – usually a saint’s commemoration day is his or her death day.

The feast will mainly be celebrated with pomp and fervour in the Gozitan village of Xewkija.

The feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, celebrated at St John’s Co-Cathedral on the last Sunday of June, is this year being celebrated today, which is the liturgical feast day.

This change was prompted by the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter to give it more importance in the annals of the Co-Cathedral and also to revive its importance.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna will be leading Solemn Vespers at 6pm, to be followed by a procession and Pontifical Mass.

Knights and Dames of the Order of St John (MASMOM) and those of the Holy Sepulchre (EOHSJ) will participate.