This fragment of a sermon we took care to transcribe from the same codex of St. Dalmatius. Today, brethren, we celebrate with most devout festivities the birthday of the most blessed John the Baptist, whose life was not only praiseworthy, but whose very nativity also proved wondrous. For he was born of a barren woman, proceeding from an aged womb; he is that Baptist of Christ, John, of whom it is written: 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness' (Luke 3). John indeed cried in the wilderness, that he might rouse the most hardened hearts of an unbelieving people to repentance. He cried, that he might [call] them from their most wicked unbelief... he cried and said: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God' (Luke 3).