Commemorated on September 23
On this day the mercy, miracles and wisdom of God are celebrated: His mercy toward the devout and righteous parents of St. John, the aged Zacharias and Elizabeth, who all their lives had wished for and begged a child from God; His miracle, that of John’s conception in the aged womb of Elizabeth; who all their lives had wished for and begged a child from God; His miracle, that of John’s conception in the aged womb of Elizabeth; His wisdom,in the dispensation of man’s salvation.
God had an especially great intention for John: namely, that he be the Prophet and Forerunner of Christ the Lord, the Savior of the world. Through His angels, God announced the births of Isaac to the childless Sarah, Samson to the childless wife of Manoah, and John the Forerunner to the childless Zacharias and Elizabeth. All of these were those whom He had special intentions, and he foretold their birth through his angels. How could children be born of aged parents?
If someone desires to understand this, he should not ask men about natural law. Rather, he should turn his gaze upon the power of the Almighty God, Who created the whole world from nothing, and Who needed no parents – old or young – for the creation of the first man, Adam. Instead of being curious, let us give thanks to God, Who often reveals His power, mercy and wisdom to us in ways that are beyond natural law – in which we would be imprisoned without these special miracles of God, and would fall into despair and forgetfulness of God.
Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion — Tone 4
(Podoben: “Be quick to anticipate”)
Be glad, O barren one who has not given birth until now, / for behold, you have conceived the lamp of the Sun, / and He shall enlighten all the earth, which is afflicted with blindness. / Dance, O Zachariah, and cry out with boldness: / The Prophet of the Most High is about to be born.
Kontakion — Tone 1
(Podoben: “The angelic choir…”)
The great and renowned Zachariah rejoices radiantly, / and exults with his wife Elizabeth; / for worthily does she conceive John the Baptist, / whom the Archangel announced joyously, / and men honor as an initiate of grace.