312 ST. MARK’S REST

135. (I.) THE LIFE OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.-Leaving the altar and turning to the right, we have the first mosaic in the series which gives the life of the Baptist, and consists in all of ten pictures. (See opposite plan.)

a.His birth is announced.

b.He is born and named.

c.He is led into the desert.

d.He receives a cloak from an angel.

e.He preaches to the people.

f.He answers the Pharisees.

g.He baptizes Christ.

h.He is condemned to death.

i.He is beheaded.

j.He is buried.

136. a. His birth is announced.-This mosaic has three divisions.

I. To the left is Zacharias at the altar, with the angel appearing to him. He swings a censer, burning incense “in the order of his course.” He has heard the angel’s message, for his look and gesture show clearly that he is already struck dumb. Above are the words:

INGRESSO ZACHARIA TEPLV DNI

APARVIT EI AGLS DNI STAS

A DEXTRIS ALTARIS

“Ingresso Zacharia templum domini apparuit ei angelus domini stans a dextris altaris.”

“When Zacharias had entered the temple of the Lord there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar” (St. Luke i. 9-11).

II. “And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he

[Version 0.04: March 2008]