Prophecy from an angel
Before the birth of Jesus Christ, humanity lived in anticipation of the Mission promised by God to the first people in the Garden of Eden. The Son of God had to come to earth in human form in order to restore the lost union of man and God and open the way to eternal life. Before this great event, the one who would prepare the way for Christ had to appear to people. His mission was to prepare people to accept the Savior. This man was the prophet, the Forerunner, the Baptist of the Lord, John.
The Prophet John was born into the family of the Jewish priest Zechariah, a descendant of Ithamar, the son of the Prophet Aaron, brother of Moses, who led the Jewish people from Egyptian captivity. Zechariah and Elizabeth lived to an old age, but they did not have children, which in Jewish society was equated with God's punishment and was considered a disgrace.
Appearance of an Angel to Elder Zechariah in the Jerusalem Temple
One day, while serving in the temple sanctuary, the prophet Zechariah saw an angel.
Archangel Gabriel told the priest that God had heard the prayers of him and Elizabeth and was sending them a son. The son named John will become joy and joy for his parents, many will rejoice, for he will be great before the Creator.
Icons and paintings
/www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Conception_of_John_Baptist_icon_Russia_15_c-114×160.jpg" target="_blank">https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09 /C...t_icon_Russia_15_c-114×160.jpg 114w, https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/C...n_Baptist_icon_Russia_15_c.jpg 879w" /> “The Conception of John the Baptist" (meeting of Zechariah and Elizabeth; on the right is the figure of their future son)
/www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/00007524-112×160.jpg" target="_blank">https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09 /00007524-112×160.jpg 112w, https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/00007524.jpg 1053w " /> Zechariah and Elizabeth (Nativity of John the Baptist). XV century, Russia
/www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/B-4512_7-IV-127×160.jpg" target="_blank">https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads /2013/09/B-4512_7-IV-127×160.jpg 127w, https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/B-4512_7-IV.jpg 798w " />
/www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/1017px-Cappella_tornabuoni_10_annuncio_dellangelo_a_zaccaria-211×160.jpg" target="_blank">https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013 /09/1...langelo_a_zaccaria-211×160.jpg 211w, https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/1...ncio_dellangelo_a_zaccaria.jpg 1017w" /> "Annunciation of the Nativity of John the Baptist" , fresco by Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Tornabuoni Chapel
/www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Folio_43v_-_The_Archangel_Gabriel_Appears_to_Zachary-102×160.jpg" target="_blank">https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013 /09/F...Appears_to_Zachary-102×160.jpg 102w, https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/F...Gabriel_Appears_to_Zachary.jpg 405w" /> Miniature from “The Magnificent Book of Hours of the Duke of Berry »
/www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Murder_of_Zechariah-235×160.jpg" target="_blank">https://www.pravmir.ru/wp-content/uploads/2013/09 /Murder_of_Zechariah-235×160.jpg 235w" /> Murder of Zechariah (miniature from the Minology of Basil II, 976-1025)
Historical information about the holy couple
The righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth are known to us from the Gospel of Luke, where the apostle informs the world about the birth of the one who will prepare the way for Christ. The sacred origins come from the line of priests. John's mother Elizabeth and Righteous Anna, the mother of the Most Pure Virgin Mary, were sisters, so Righteous Elizabeth was the aunt of the Mother of Christ.
The priest Zechariah served in the temple of Jerusalem. Aaron's descendants became so numerous that they could not all serve in the temple together. By order of King David, they were divided into 24 rows, so that each face had its own ministry in a certain week.
Each individual series was headed by a most honest man, appointed king; by lot the priests determined who to serve and in what week. The priest Abijah, from whose family John’s father was, drew lots blessing him to serve in the eighth week. This is what the prophet Zechariah was serving when the Archangel appeared to him.
Holy Righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth
The holy couple were famous for their righteousness, fulfilling all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
The priest, who was already in his old age, having heard the message of the Archangel Gabriel, doubted it, for which the Lord deprived him of the power of speech. Righteous Elizabeth became pregnant, could not believe in the miracle of conception, hid from people for a long time and rejoiced that God had saved her from shame. When the pregnancy was 6 months old, Maria, who was not yet married, came to her.
By the intense movement of the baby, it was revealed to Elizabeth by the Holy Spirit that the Blessed Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ was standing before her, and the Baby was living in her womb.
The news of the birth of a son to a middle-aged couple quickly spread among their relatives and neighbors, everyone rejoiced at the miracle given. On the day of circumcision, the elders asked righteous Elizabeth what name she wanted to give her son, for Zechariah remained mute.
The answer was that his name would be John. Everyone around him was very surprised, because according to Jewish custom, the children were given the names of one of their ancestors, but in the family of Aaron’s tribe, where the boy’s parents came from, there was no such name.
They asked the prophet Zechariah, and he wrote: “John,” and at that very moment the veil of silence was lifted from the priest. Further, by the Holy Spirit, through the prophecy of Zechariah, the Almighty told people that this baby would become God's messenger. John was sent to earth to prepare the way for the Lord.
Nativity of John the Baptist
Prayers
First prayer
Holy God and rest in the saints, glorified by the angels with a thrice-holy voice in heaven, praised on earth by man in His saints, giving grace to each by Your Holy Spirit according to the bestowal of Christ, and by that ordaining to the Church of Your Holy Ones apostles, prophets, and evangelists , you are shepherds and teachers, whose word of sermon, to You who acts all in all, has accomplished many saints in every generation and generation, with various benefactors pleasing You, and to You, having left us the image of your good deeds, having passed away in joy, prepare, in it the temptations themselves came, and help us those who are attacked. Remembering all these saints and the holy prophet Zechariah and the righteous Elizabeth and praising their godly lives, I praise You Himself, who acted in them, and believing in Your goodness, I diligently pray to You, Holy of Holies, grant that I, a sinner, may follow their teaching, life, love, faith, patience, and their prayerful help, and more than Your all-effective grace, the heavenly ones with them will be honored with glory, praising Your Most Holy Name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
Second prayer
Oh, blessed saints of God, all the saints who stand before the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity and enjoy indescribable bliss! Behold, now, on the day of your common triumph, look mercifully upon us, your lesser brothers, who bring you this song of praise, and through your intercession ask for mercy and remission of sins from the Most Blessed Lord; We know, we truly know, that whatever you desire, you can ask Him for. Therefore, we humbly pray to you, and to the holy prophet Zechariah and the righteous Elizabeth, pray to the Merciful Master, may He give us the spirit of your zeal for keeping His holy commandments, so that, following in your footsteps, we will be able to pursue an earthly career in a virtuous life without blemish, and in By repentance, reach the glorious villages of paradise, and there together with you glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen!
Prayer three
To you, about the holiness of all, the holy prophet Zechariah and the righteous Elizabeth, as guiding lamps, who with their deeds illuminated the path of the heavenly sunrise, I, a great sinner, humbly bow the knee of my heart and from the depths of my soul I cry: beg for me, the Lover of Mankind, God, that he will not allow me to wander again along the paths of sin, but may my mind and heart be enlightened by the light of His grace, as if we illuminate and strengthen it, I will be able to continue the rest of my earthly life on the right path without stumbling and through your intercession to the Most Good Lord I will be honored, for a little while I will be a partaker of your spiritual meal in the heavenly throne of the King glory. To Him, with His Beginningless Father and the Most Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit, be glory, honor and worship forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer four
Oh, holy saints of God, the prophet Zechariah and the righteous Elizabeth, you fought a good fight on earth, you received in heaven the crown of righteousness, which the Lord prepared for all who love Him; In the same way, looking at your holy icon, we rejoice at the glorious end of your life and honor your holy memory. You, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers and bring them to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and help us against the wiles of the devil, so that, having been delivered from sorrows, illnesses, troubles and misfortunes and all evil, we will live piously and righteously in the present We will be worthy, through your intercession, even though we are unworthy, to see good on the land of the living, glorifying the One in His saints, the glorified God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Troparion, tone 2
Your righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth, O Lord, we celebrate your memory, and we pray to You: save our souls.
Troparion to the Holy Prophet Zechariah, tone 4
You were clothed with the garments of the priesthood, in wisdom, according to the law of God, you offered burnt offerings in a sacred manner, Zechariah, and you were a lamp and a spectator of secrets, bearing signs of grace in you clearly, in all wisdom, and you were killed with a sword in the temple of God, the prophet of Christ, with the Forerunner pray for the salvation of souls ours.
Kontakion to the Holy Prophet Zechariah, tone 3
Today the prophet and priest of the Most High, Zechariah, offer, the Forerunner parent, a meal of his memory, feeding faithfully, dissolving the drink of righteousness to everyone, for this sake he dies, like the Divine secret place of God’s grace.
