Saint John the Baptist (Saint Jean Baptiste), to whom the Cathedral of Ales is dedicated, is - like Saint Joseph - a man on the threshold between the Old and the New Testament. His parents are Zechariah and Elizabeth. After the proclamation of God's incarnation, the Mother of God visits her relative Elizabeth, who will give birth to a son in old age, John the Baptist. This is half a year older than Jesus and is considered his forerunner / pioneer. He lives in the desert, preaches the repentance of sins to the Jewish population and baptizes them in the Jordan, where Jesus also comes to be baptized, being filled with the Holy Spirit that descends on him from heaven.
The memorial day of Saint John the Baptist (Jean Baptiste) in the calendar of saints is on June 24th, exactly half a year before 'Christmas Eve'.