Until the Revolution of 1917, there was in the St. Elias Church in Vologda, an ancient icon, remarkable both for the delicacy of its execution and for its title as recorded in the Church inventory of 1809. It was described as the : “Icon of the Mother of God – the Children Slain by Herod.” It depicted the Mother of God and the Divine Infant in the clouds, surrounded by a wreath consisting of many naked infants, arrayed in a wide variety of positions.
The body of one of the infants slain in Bethlehem rests in the Kiev cave of St. Theodosius. Barren women turn to this infant martyr for help in making them able to bear children. Prayers for the health of children are also offered up to him.
The relics of the infant slain at Herod’s direction, were brought to Kiev in 1620 by Patriarch Theophanes of Jerusalem; they rest in a silver reliquary. It is not known why he is known as John.