The help of the saints in our needs. Prophet Zechariah and Righteous Elizabeth

Zechariah Luke had no illusions that he was the first to write a biography of Jesus, since he knew full well that there were already many such biographies. For example, there was the Gospel of Mark and perhaps a number of Gospels that were never accepted.

Elizabeth The mother of John the Baptist is also represented: Lk. 1: 5. ... and his wife [Zachariah] from the family of Aaron, her name is Elizabeth. Elisabeth ("Eleisabet" in Greek) is a noble Aaronic name, as it is equivalent to the Hebrew "Elisheb", the name of Aaron's wife: Exodus 6:25. Aaron took

Prophet Zechariah and Righteous Elizabeth (September 18/September 5) These pious spouses did not have children until old age, and then, with the blessing of God, the Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist was born to them.

Prmcc. Elisaveta Alapaevskaya († 1918), commemorated 18 July Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna was the second child in the family of Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt, and Princess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria of England. Her Native sister Alice - later became a wife

Troparion, tone 2:

Thy righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth, Lord, celebrating the memory, we pray to Thee: save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 4:

As the moon is full, Thou didst receive the Light of Truth from the Mental Sun of the Messiah, and in all the commandments of the Lord Thou didst walk with Zechariah, God-beloved Elizabeth. Worthy of thee with pleasurable songs, the All-Generous Light, enlightening all, we magnify the Lord.

Prayers to the Prophet Zechariah and Righteous Elizabeth, Parents of John the Baptist

Prayer one:

Holy God and rest in the saints, with a three-holy voice in heaven from an angel sung, on earth from a man praised in His saints, giving by Your Holy Spirit grace to anyone according to the bestowal of Christ, and then setting up the Church of Your Holy Apostles, ov prophets, ov evangelists, ov shepherds and teachers, by their own word of preaching, to You Itself to the one who acts all in all, many have been made holy in every kind and kind, pleasing You with various benefactors, and to You, leaving us the image of our good deeds, having passed away in joy, prepare, in it the temptations of the former themselves, and help us who are attacked. Remembering all these saints and the holy prophet Zacharias and the righteous Elizabeth and praising their God-pleasing life, I praise You Samago, who acted in them, I praise, and one of Your blessings of giving to be believing, I diligently pray to Thee, Holy of Holies, give me a sinner to follow their teachings, life, love, faith, longsuffering, and their prayers with great help, more than Thy omnipotent grace, heavenly with them will be honored with glory, praising the Most Holy your name, Father and Son and Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

Prayer two:

Oh, blessed saints of God, all the saints who stand before the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity and enjoy indescribable bliss! Now, on the day of your common triumph, graciously look upon us, your lesser brethren, bringing you this laudatory singing, and asking your intercession for mercy and remission of sins from the Most Good Lord; Vems are more, truly Vems, like everything, if you desire, you can ask Him. Therefore, we humbly pray to you, and to the holy prophet Zechariah and the righteous Elizabeth, pray to the Merciful Lord, may the spirit of your zeal for the preservation of His holy commandments give us, as if flowing in your footsteps, we will be able to pass the earthly field in a virtuous life without blemish, and in repentance reach the glorious villages of paradise, and there we glorify with you worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen!

Prayer three:

To you, all holy and holy prophet Zechariah and the righteous Elizabeth, as guiding lamps, with their deeds illuminating the path of heavenly sunrise, as a sinful one, I humbly bow the knee of my heart and cry out from the depths of my soul: implore the Lover of God for me, may he not let me still wander through the crossroads of sin, but may he enlighten my mind and heart with the light of His grace , as if we illuminate and strengthen it, I will be able to rest the rest of the time of earthly life on the right path without fail and by your intercession to the Most Good Lord, I will become a little partaker of being your spiritual meal in the heavenly chamber of the King of 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, the holy saints of God, the prophet Zacharias and the righteous Elizabeth, fought a good feat on earth, received the crown of truth in heaven, which the Lord has prepared for all those who love Him; the same looking at your holy icon, we rejoice in the glorious end of your residence and honor your holy memory. But you, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers and bring to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and help us become against the wiles of the devil, but having got rid of sorrows, illnesses, troubles and misfortunes and all evil, we will live piously and righteously in the present age and be honored with your intercession, if not worthy of Esma, to see the good on the land of the living, glorifying the One in His saints glorifying God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.

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The history of the illustrious married couple Zechariah and Elizabeth began almost the same as the history of Joachim and Anna, with childlessness, the burden of which in this case turned out to be even heavier, because Zechariah, as an Old Testament priest, had to show his parishioners - devout citizens - an example of the strict observance of God's commandments, almost the main of which was considered the obligation to continue one's family.

The nobility of Zechariah is beyond all human praise. He, like Joachim, the father of the Virgin Mary, did not want to leave his barren wife or divorce her, although he had every right to do so. Conjugal love has triumphed over the duty of law.

The narrative itself begins with a story about how Zechariah, performing another service in the temple, went into the sanctuary for incense. Separated from the worshipers by a veil and invisible to them, he suddenly saw before him an angel of the Lord - the archangel Gabriel. Gabriel begins his speech to Zechariah with the same warning "do not be afraid!", with which, just a few months later, he will begin his appeal to the Virgin Mary. "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son, and you will name him: John," the angel said to the astonished priest.

If in place of Zechariah there was a simple person, not involved in church traditions and sacraments, then his incredulity, caution, prudence would be justified. But after all, he was a priest, called to show a special susceptibility to the very possibility of giving birth to a child at an advanced age: after all, Abraham and Sarah were older than Zechariah and Elizabeth, but they perceived the miracle of the birth of Isaac to them with reverence and gratitude, not even allowing themselves to doubt that everything is possible with God!

In that world" ordinary miracle"What the whole New Testament story is, the priest's doubts are punishable. Zechariah also suffered punishment for him: having questioned the good news of Gabriel, he was immediately struck by dumbness. However, closing his father's mouth, God opened the mother's womb, who soon conceived and gave birth to a baby in due time. The same opinion was expressed by Zechariah himself, who, due to his dumbness, wrote exactly this name on the tablet. And as soon as his hand imprinted the name predicted by the angel, the priest immediately found the gift of speech and began to prophesy with inspiration about the deliverance and salvation of the faithful: it was obvious that, having endowed him with grace, God would not leave the whole people with his intercession. The story, which began dramatically, found a happy ending.

Here, even before Christ, we see the implementation of the gospel law: “carry one another’s burdens,” which, in essence, should become the “basic law” family life. In fact, Zechariah and Elizabeth, as befits real spouses, supported each other in the troubles of life. They, as can be judged from the story, really constituted a single whole, a single body, a single organism, both "parts" of which truly make up for, complement mutual shortcomings: when doubt threatens one of the spouses with death, then salvation for him, and for the whole couple as a whole, becomes the faith of the other.

As a result, we were shown an example of marital mutual assistance and unanimity, which was expressed without words, only by intuition: independently of one another, a husband and wife, neglecting the wishes of their relatives, choose the same name for the newborn. It was this unanimity, which was inspired by love, harmony and joint patience of sorrows, that returned peace and happiness to the spouses. Marriage love - they testify to us - is, among other things, also the ability to communicate without words: "the heart sends a message to the heart" even when this message cannot be expressed in words.

The righteous parents did not rejoice for long at their long-awaited son. Six months later, the Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. King Herod, having learned about this, was afraid that he would lose his throne, and ordered to kill all the babies in Bethlehem and its environs. Righteous Joseph with the Virgin Mary and the Child Christ fled to Egypt, and righteous Elizabeth, saving John, fled into the desert near the Dead Sea. King Herod, in search of John, sent soldiers to the temple to find out from Zechariah where Elizabeth was hiding. When Zechariah refused to reveal her whereabouts to them, the soldiers killed him between the temple and the altar. According to legend, his spilled blood hardened on the marble floor and for many years reminded the worshipers of the villainy of Herod. Righteous Elizabeth died 40 days after the death of her husband, and the baby, guarded by the Lord, remained to live in the wilderness until the very day when he appeared before the people of Israel.

Oh, the holy saints of God, the prophet Zacharias and the righteous Elizabeth, fought a good feat on earth, received the crown of truth in heaven, which the Lord has prepared for all those who love Him; the same looking at your holy icon, we rejoice in the glorious end of your residence and honor your holy memory. But you, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers and bring to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and help us become against the wiles of the devil, but having got rid of sorrows, illnesses, troubles and misfortunes and all evil, we will live piously and righteously in the present age and be honored with your intercession, if not worthy of Esma, to see the good on the land of the living, glorifying the One in His saints glorifying God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.

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Kondak 1

Elected from the family of Aaron, who gave birth to John the God-praised, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord prepared to be, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth! As if you have boldness in the Lord, by your intercession, free us from all troubles, crying out to you: Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown good fruit for people.

Ikos 1

The angels of the earth and the people of heaven have truly appeared, Saints Zacharias and Elisabeth, from your youth you have adorned yourself with all the virtues and lived your life undefiled, it seems to him that we call you laudatory voices: Rejoice, glorious vegetation of the Aron family. Rejoice, bright decoration of pious parents. Rejoice, zealousness of spiritual and bodily purity. Rejoice, zealous keepers of the commandments of God. Rejoice, wife of the righteous, chosen by God. Rejoice, you have been called to the heavenly meal by the Lord. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 2

Seeing the Heavenly Father from the height of His glory, as your life, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, be pious and holy, bless from your saint branch to grow an honest and glorious fruit - John, in order to be him a prophet, Forerunner and Baptist to His beloved Son Jesus Christ, we praise Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Archangel Gabriel, directed from above by the Divine Mind, appears to you, Priest Zacharias, who has entered the sanctuary and serves according to the order of his line. Behold the messenger of heaven, standing at the right hand of the altar of the censer, great fear haunted you, both the messenger of God said to you: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah." But we, touched by the mercy of God to your family, cry out: Rejoice, strong protection of a chaste life. Rejoice, immutable overcoming of sins and passions. Rejoice, generously overshadowing by the grace of God. Rejoice, you who see hidden secrets in heaven. Rejoice, as angels of incorporeality, who have lived on earth. Rejoice, having preserved bodily purity in your life. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 3

The power of the inexpressible mercy of God on you, saints, is revealed, for seeing the righteousness of your walking before the face of God, the Lord sent you great comfort in old age, may you sing to Him faithfully: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Have a command from the Lord to console you, holy Zacharias, to raise up an angel of God, as if your prayer is favorable to God and listening to it, God will grant you mercy: bless your wife Elizabeth, resolving the bonds of her infertility, may she give birth to a son, named after the grace of John. By the same, receive this song from us: Rejoice, having pleased God with your life. Rejoice, thou who didst walk holy before Him. Rejoice, for in your prayers to the Creator, nature has risen. Rejoice, as the word of the Lord has always comforted you. Rejoice, having placed all your hopes on the Creator. Rejoice, in your good deeds not knowing fatigue. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 4

Not overcome by the storm of worldly life, your son, Saints Zechariah and Elisaveto, will be great before the Lord, not only in body, but also in spirit, the Angel of the Lord said, for with his birth he will bring great joy to the world, as many will rejoice at his birth, praising the Creator: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing wondrous words about his son, as if he will be called that great prophet and fasting, and even from his mother's womb will be filled with the Holy Spirit and many from the sons of Israel for his sake will turn to the true God, for he must be the Forerunner of Christ in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah and prepare peoples to accept the Savior, Zechariah was stricken and surprised, not daring to believe what was spoken by the Angel. We, listening to the words of the angels, cry out to you: Rejoice, having acquired the great mercy of the Creator. Rejoice, you who brought great joy to the tongues. Rejoice, having covered your gray hairs with glory. Rejoice, you have not deprived yourself of rewards in heaven. Rejoice, you who have become like the merciful Lord in everything. Rejoice, you who have always worshiped the Triune God. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 5

Fear God for sure, the angel of the Lord said to Zechariah: I am Gabriel, stand before God and sent to announce all this to you, both because you did not believe my words, be dumb and do not utter a single word until everything that I have spoken must be fulfilled according to to the will of the great God, to whom I sing glory: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing the people who were in the church of the Lord, Zacharias was slowed down at the altars, I marveled at this, but I went out to them and could not speak, but only waved, understanding everyone, as if he had a vision in the altars. But we, glorifying the wondrous in the miracles of Our Lord, say to you this: Rejoice, for the power of God has been perfected on you. Rejoice, for the will of God has been immutably done on you. Rejoice, for the grace of the Creator has been poured out on you in abundance. Rejoice, for the Creator has generously bestowed joy upon you. Rejoice, for you have been exalted by the holy hand. Rejoice, as you set an example for everyone. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 6

The words of the Lord, proclaimed by an angel, seeing the reality, rejoicing zealously, Elizabeth, for she conceived her son and hid for five months, saying: as the Lord did for me in the days, in a lower sight take away my reproach among men, but I sing His praise: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Ascend abundantly the grace of God in the Holy Elizabeth, when filled with the Holy Spirit and cry with a great voice to the Virgin Mary: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Her child leaped up in the womb with joy at the coming of the Mother of God. Yes, and the grace of the Holy Spirit descends on us, crying out with joy to the site: Rejoice, blessed with the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, grace generously the Creator of autumn. Rejoice, great holy child who conceived. Rejoice, knowing the joy of fatherhood and motherhood from God. Rejoice, Mother of God, relative of all-honour. Rejoice, servant of goodness who has incarnated the Son of God. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 7

I want to proclaim to people from an angel the name of my son John, holy Zacharias, after his birth he wrote e and Abie, opening your tongue and mouth, and saying packs, blessing God and singing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

Give new grace to you Lord, righteous Zechariah, fill you with the Holy Spirit, while prophesying you, saying: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, as if you visit and work deliverance for your people and raise up the horn of salvation for us, in the house of David, your servant, as the mouth of the saints who are from the ages, his prophet and you, a child, the prophet of the Most High call ye, go before the face of the Lord, prepare his way." We, listening to your prophecy, through you, the righteous of God, praise the Lord, singing these praises to you: Rejoice, child of the holy into the world of those who gave birth. Rejoice, having proclaimed joy to the world with this Christmas. Rejoice, having praised God immeasurably. Rejoice, you who served the Lord faithfully. Rejoice, you who fulfilled all His Laws. Rejoice, keeping yourself pure. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 8

A strange miracle happened around the living people, when I hear about the glorious and wonderful birth of your child, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, and with surprise I say in myself: “What will this child be?”. We, rejoicing at the glorious Nativity of the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, cry out to the Lord: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

You were all filled with embarrassment, the prophet of God Zechariah, in vain Blessed Virgin Mary with the Divine Infant came to the temple and stood in front of the doors of the temple in the place of unclean women, asking for the cleansing of the lawful. Leading Yu to the Holy of Holies by you, by the inspiration of God, entered and brought up there and understood by the spirit that this Mother is the Pure Virgin and after Christmas, put Yu for this sake in the place of the maidens, where wives who have a husband are not befitting. We, praising the Pure Virgin with you, cry out with love and tenderness: Rejoice, having given glory to the Mother of God. Rejoice, thou who didst praise Her together with all. Rejoice, you who awaited God's coming into the world. Rejoice, thou who blessed the Creator with pure prayer. Rejoice, delight in the Face of the Infant Christ. Rejoice, in the Kingdom of God raised up by Him. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 9

All the Angels and holy faces rejoiced with great joy, when you, holy Zechariah, on your righteous hands, were touched in your heart and with the fear of God, accepted the God-child, and like the Creator and God, cried to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Human vitiation does not suffice for worthy glorification of your wondrous life, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisaveto, it is not possible to confess and count all your prayers and fasting, all your tears and sighs even to God. Receive from us, labored by love for you, this small praise: Rejoice, vessel of the Holy Spirit from the age of election. Rejoice, stretching out your hand to the Creator in hope. Rejoice, faithful saints of the Most Holy Trinity. Rejoice, you who have found the way to God through thorns. Rejoice, having acquired salvation through your labors. Rejoice, for you have trusted in the Lord in everything. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 10

Wanting to save their child, they give their mother their child and run away with him to the mountains from the wicked child-killer Herod, who sent soldiers to Bethlehem, let all the babies be beaten, orders to kill and your child, blessed Zechariah and Elisabeth. But we, the Lord, who keeps His chosen ones from the hand of the ungodly, with love we say: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

The Lord, righteous Elisaveto, was a wall of protection from the overtaking murderers, when, at your prayer: "Mountain of God, receive a mother and son!" Rejoicing in your salvation with tears, we cry out to you: Rejoice, in the Lord on all the ways of keeping. Rejoice, by the hand of God leading this life. Rejoice, having carried love for the Creator within you. Rejoice, you have tasted the imperishable fruit in paradise. Rejoice, you who suffered for the righteousness of God. Rejoice, you who desire to be with God. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 11

Thou, holy and righteous Zechariah, brought the singing of prayers to the Lord God, when the soldiers of the bestial Herod came to you with the command to give them your son. Thou didst answer them: "I now serve the Lord God of Israel, and I know not where my son is!" Cry to God who strengthens you: Hallelujah.

Ikos 11

The temple of the Lord was filled with heavenly light, righteous Zechariah, when the warrior who questioned you said: "You will kill my body, but the Lord will accept my soul!" But you were killed between the church and the altar, as Herod commanded, your holy blood shed to thicken on the marble and harden as a testimony and eternal condemnation of Herod. We, glorifying your martyrdom, sing with laudatory voices: Rejoice, consecrating souls to the Creator. Rejoice, having preserved them in holiness. Rejoice, crowning God with heavenly glory. Rejoice, calling into the joy of your Lord. Rejoice, for now you are eating imperishable food. Rejoice, for you are always praying to God for us.

Kondak 12

Divine grace has appeared on you, righteous Elisaveto, and an indescribable miracle has wonderfully opened, when in the mountain that sheltered you with a child, by God’s command a cave was built, a water source opened and a phoenix grew over the cave, giving its fruits in abundance. Rejoicing in such favor of God, you sang to Him with your child: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing a joyful song of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, after forty days have elapsed after the murder of the righteous Zechariah, Saint Elizabeth surrendered her soul to her Creator and united with her husband in heaven. Glorifying your righteous life, Saints Zechariah and Elisabeth, we fervently implore you to hear our laudatory singing: Rejoice, for you are affirmed in the faith of the saints. Rejoice, for you are our protection from troubles. Rejoice, as you always protect us from sorrows. Rejoice, for you tame the bodily passions in us. Rejoice, you are the patron of wisdom as a pious spouse. Rejoice, our child you are the educator of kindness. Rejoice, holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth, who have grown a good fruit for people.

Kondak 13

O holy and righteous Zechariah and Elisabeth! We pray you with zeal and love: ask our Lord in this life in faith and virtues for affirmation, deliverance from sorrows and misfortunes, forgiveness of our sins, may we also be able to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and forever sing to God: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times. Then ikos 1 and kontakion 1.

Prayer

O greatness of Christ's righteous women, Saints Zechariah and Elisabeth! We resort to you and pray to you with great hope: bring your holy prayers for us sinners to the Lord and send all that is useful to our souls and our bodies, faith to the right, love is not hypocritical, prosperity in good deeds, health and eternal salvation to souls and bodies. Do not despise our prayers, offered up to you with compunction, but wake us up to the Lord so that we may be able to receive eternal salvation with your help, inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and, together with you and all the saints, glorify the inexpressible love of mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity worshiping God, in ages of ages. Amen.

Zechariah the Righteous, father of John the Baptist

See also: "

Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist

Lives of the Prophet Zechariah and the Righteous Elizabeth

The holy prophet Zacharias and the holy righteous Elizabeth were the parents of the holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John. They came from the family of Aaron: Saint Zacharias, the son of Barahia, was a priest in the Jerusalem temple, and Saint Elizabeth was the sister of Saint Anna, mother of the Most Holy Theotokos. Righteous spouses, "acting according to all the commandments of the Lord blamelessly" (Luke 1:5-25), suffered from infertility, which was considered in the Old Testament times a great punishment from God. Once, while serving in the temple, Saint Zacharias received a message from an angel that his aged wife would bear him a son who "will be great before the Lord" (Lk. 1:15) and "will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah" (Lk. 1:17). Zechariah doubted the possibility of fulfilling this prediction and was punished with dumbness for lack of faith. When a son was born to the righteous Elizabeth, she, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, announced that she would name the baby John, although no one in their family had been given such a name before. They asked the righteous Zechariah, and he also wrote the name John on the tablet. Immediately the gift of speech returned to him, and he, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to prophesy about his son as the Forerunner of the Lord.

When the wicked King Herod heard from the Magi about the born Messiah, he decided to beat all babies under the age of 2 in Bethlehem and its environs, hoping that the born Messiah would be among them. Herod was well aware of the unusual birth of the prophet John and wanted to kill him, fearing that he was the King of the Jews. But the righteous Elizabeth took refuge with the baby in the mountains. The assassins were looking for John everywhere. Righteous Elizabeth, seeing the persecutors, with tears began to pray to God for salvation, and the mountain that parted at once hid her, along with the baby, from the chase. During these troubled days, Saint Zacharias fulfilled his line of service in the Temple in Jerusalem. Soldiers sent by Herod tried in vain to find out from him where his son was. Then, at the command of Herod, they killed the holy prophet, stabbing him between the altar and the altar (Matt. 23:35). Righteous Elizabeth died 40 days after her husband, and Saint John, protected by the Lord, remained in the wilderness until the day of his appearance to the people of Israel.

See also: " Life of the Holy Prophet Zechariah"in the presentation of St. Demetrius of Rostov.