Saints Zechariah and Elizabeth

Life story

Luke 1 is the only source for the two of them. Zechariah was a priest of the division of Abijah, and his wife Elizabeth was of Aaron's line. They lived blamelessly under the Law, but had no child because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. When his turn came to burn incense in the Temple in Jerusalem, the angel Gabriel appeared and announced that his wife would bear a son named John. Zechariah doubted, and was struck mute until the child was born.

Elizabeth then conceived and kept to herself for five months. Luke 1 relates that Mary, described as a relative of Elizabeth, set out for the hill country of Judea to visit her. Elizabeth greeted Mary with words of praise, and felt the child in her womb leap. Mary stayed about three months and then went home.

When the boy was born, neighbours and relatives wanted to name him after his father. Elizabeth said he was to be called John, and Zechariah wrote the same name on a tablet; at that moment he could speak again. He then uttered a song of thanksgiving that the Church later called the Benedictus. Scripture records nothing further about their lives or deaths.

Later non-biblical texts such as the Protoevangelium of James add stories about Zechariah's fate, but these are late legend, not verified history. The feast days assigned to them have also varied between liturgical calendars.

Works and witness

• Zechariah served as a priest of the division of Abijah in Jerusalem
• Elizabeth bore John the Baptist in old age (Luke 1)
• Elizabeth welcomed her relative Mary on a visit
• Zechariah named the child John and regained his speech

Saints from the same country

Saint Peter, Saint Andrew the Apostle, Saint James the Greater, Saint John the Apostle

References

• New Testament – Gospel according to Luke
• Martyrologium Romanum
• Protoevangelium of James

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.