Holy Prophet Zachariah and Righteous Elizabeth, parents of Saint John the Baptist

Commemorated on September 5.

In these tragic days Saint Zachariah was taking his turn at the services in the Temple. Soldiers sent by Herod tried in vain to learn from him the whereabouts of his son. Then, by command of Herod, they murdered this holy prophet, having stabbed him between the temple and the altar (MT 23: 35). Elizabeth died forty days after her husband, and Saint John, preserved by the Lord, dwelt in the wilderness until the day of his appearance to the nation of Israel.

On the Greek calendar, Saints Zachariah and Elizabeth are also commemorated on June 24, the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.

Troparion

Celebrating the memory of the Righteous Zachariah and Elizabeth, O Lord,
together with them we pray to You: "Save our souls."

Kontakion

Today the prophet Zachariah, priest of the Most High
and parent of the Forerunner,
has prepared a banquet to his memory to nourish the faithful,
mixing the drink of righteousness.
Therefore we praise him as a divine initiate of the grace of God.