Saint Zacharias was a priest of the lineage of Ithamar. He was married to Elizabeth, who descended from the line of Aaron. The two lived righteously and with profound humility before God, faithfully observing His commandments.
During the reign of Herod, Saint Zacharias served in Jerusalem as a member of the priestly division of Abijah. While carrying out his ministry, an angel of the Lord appeared before him and announced that he and his wife would have a son, called John. The child would be filled with the Divine Grace and would precede the Messiah.
Zacharias doubted the words of the angel, considering such a promise impossible because of his advanced age. As a result, he was struck mute until the prophecy was fulfilled. After the birth of John, the saint, filled with the Holy Spirit, glorified God and prophesied the salvation of Israel.
Later, after the birth of Christ, Herod, having learned of the coming of Messiah, ordered the massacre of all infant boys. Elizabeth then hid with the newborn John in the mountains.
Saint Zacharias was executed by order of Herod after refusing to reveal the whereabouts of his wife and child. In this way, he suffered martyrdom and received the crown of sainthood. Elizabeth remained in the cave and passed away forty days after the murder of her husband, while the young John was nourished by an angel of the Lord until the time came for his revelation to the people.
