Saint Zechariah
THE ELEVENTH OF THE TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS (5th century BC).
The eleventh of the minor prophets, Zechariah prophesied in the 5th century BC during the reign of Darius. He encouraged the reconstruction of the Temple of Jerusalem and announced with precision the coming and passion of the Messiah. His body was found intact in the 5th century near Eleutheropolis.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
SAINT ZECHARIAH,
THE ELEVENTH OF THE TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS (5th century BC).
Origins and prophetic mission
Zechariah, son of Berechiah, began his ministry during the reign of Darius in Persia. He collaborated with the prophet Haggai to encourage the Jews to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem.
Zecharia h, son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo, began to prophesy in the year of the world 3484, in the eighth month of the second year of the re ign of Darius, first son of H ystaspes and king of Persia (521-485).
A contempo rary of the prophet Haggai, it appears that he joined him in urging the Jews to resume the work of rebuilding the temple, which had been interrupted for a long time. He also exhorted them to convert to the Lord and not to imitate the hardness of heart of their fathers, who were so often punished for not having listened to the Prophets.
Messianic visions and prophecies
The prophet receives visions concerning the succession of empires and precisely foretells the life, passion, and triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
God showed Zechariah, in two different visions and under several figures, the succession of the four monarchies, namely: the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, the Persians, and the Greeks, which was to end with the reign of Jesus Christ, whose life and passion he describes. He also speaks of his entry into Jerusalem and the thirty pieces of silver which were the price of his blood. Zachariah is the most prolific, but also, in the judgment of Saint Jerome, the most ob scure of the twelve mi nor Prophets. His prophecy, in our Bibles, contains four chapters.
Controversy regarding the martyrdom
A theological discussion concerns the identification of the Zechariah mentioned in the Gospel as having been killed between the temple and the altar, whom Saint Epiphanius attributes to a high priest of the same name.
A controversy, which has hitherto remained without a definitive solution, has arisen among commentators regarding a famous text of the Gospel that appeared to refer to Zechariah. "I have sent you," Our Lord said to the Jews, "prophets, wise men, and teachers; you have slaughtered them. Therefore, the blood of the righteous shed on the earth from the innocent Abel to Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar, will fall upon your heads!"
However, neither Jewish nor Christian tradition has preserved any memory of the murder of the prophet Zechariah. One may therefore adopt on this point the system of Sain t Epiphanius, who applied the words of Our Lord to the high priest Zechariah, put to death between the temple and the altar, during the reign of Joash (870-831).
Cult and invention of the relics
The memory of Zechariah is celebrated on various dates according to different traditions. His intact body was reportedly discovered in the 5th century near Eleutheropolis.
The Greeks and the Muscovites honor the memory of the prophet Zechariah on February 8; the Latins have assigned him September 6. Some Greek synaxaria also mark his memory on May 16, and the Egyptians celebrate his feast on September 9.
We read in the Greek historia n Sozome n (5th c.) that the body of the prophet Zechariah was found in the territory of Eleutherop olis, in a village nam ed Cap har. It was intact, dressed in a white robe, and placed in a lead coffin, enclosed within another of wood.
Iconography and sources
Zechariah is traditionally depicted with a prophetic scroll. The biography is based on the works of Ballet, Darras, and Dom Cellier.
He is depicted, like the other Prophets, unrolling a scroll on which the main texts of his prophecy can be read.
Ballet: Vies des Saints de l'Ancien Testament; Darras: Histoire générale de l'Église; Dom Cellier: Histoire des Auteurs sacrés et ecclésiastiques.
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Saint Zechariah
Frequently asked questions about Saint Zechariah
Who was Saint Zechariah?
The eleventh of the minor prophets, Zechariah prophesied in the 5th century BC during the reign of Darius. He encouraged the reconstruction of the Temple of Jerusalem and announced with precision the coming and passion of the Messiah. His body was found intact in the 5th century near Eleutheropolis.
How is Saint Zechariah depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Saint Zechariah is recognizable by: cartouche with texts from his prophecy and white robe.
What miracles are attributed to Saint Zechariah?
1 miracle are attributed to this saint, notably: Incorruptibility.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Zechariah?
Contemporaries include: Saint Ezekiel, Saint Jeremiah (Prophet), Tobias the Elder, Tobias the Younger, and Sarah and Baruch.
When did Saint Zechariah die?
Saint Zechariah died around -401.
Who are the relatives of Saint Zechariah?
Relatives of Saint Zechariah: Barachie (father) and Addo (grandfather).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Beginning of the prophecy in the year of the world 3484
- Exhortation to the Jews to rebuild the temple
- Visions of the four monarchies (Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persians, Greeks)
- Prophecy concerning the life and passion of Jesus Christ
- Discovery of his intact body at Eleutheropolis