The era of Saint Isaiah was marked by profound challenges for the Jewish people. The Kingdom of Israel had fallen, and the Kingdom of Judah was approaching the Babylonian captivity. Saint Isaiah, born in Jerusalem around 760 B.C. and descended from the tribe of Benjamin. He recognized his prophetic calling in the year of King Uzziah’s death (737 B.C.), through a vision he had with the Lord enthroned and surrounded by angels. Accepting the divine commission, Isaiah became God’s messenger to the people, warning them of coming disasters resulting from their moral decline.
Following the downfall of Samaria, Isaiah turned his attention to the fate of Judah, where King Ahaz’s reign was characterized by idolatry and widespread corruption. The prophet foretold the calamities threatening the nation and urged people to repentance. When foreign rulers threatened Jerusalem, Isaiah reassured Ahaz, prophesying that their plans would not prevail. He also announced the coming of the Messiah, born of the Virgin, offering hope to the people.
During the reign of Hezekiah, Ahaz’s successor, the worship of the true God was restored, and the temple cleansed of pagan worship. When the Assyrians were threatening Jerusalem, Isaiah strengthened the faith of people by prophesying the divine protection of the city. His narrations were fulfilled when an angel of the Lord struck down the Assyrian forces, preserving Hezekiah’s reign.
In later years, Isaiah predicted that after Hezekiah’s death, the kingdom would fall into the hands of the Babylonians, a prophecy that indeed came to pass. Saint Isaiah ultimately suffered a martyr’s death during the reign of King Manasseh. His profound prophecies concerning Christ and salvation attributed to him the name “Evangelist of the Old Testament,” acknowledging his role in foretelling the coming of the Savior.
