09/23/2026 – Життя Святих / Lives of the Saints
Зачаття чесного славн. прор., предтечі і хрестителя Господнього Івана
Conception of the Honorable Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
The Synaxarion (Lives of the Saints):
The Holy Prophet Malachi foretold that before the coming of the Messiah, His Forerunner would appear and announce His coming. The Jews therefore awaited both the Messiah and His Forerunner.
In the land of Judea lived the righteous priest Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth. They faithfully observed God’s commandments, but they were childless and had grown old. They prayed continually that God would grant them a child.
One day, while Zachariah was serving as a priest in the Temple of Jerusalem, he entered the Sanctuary to offer incense. There he saw the Archangel Gabriel standing beside the altar. Zachariah was frightened, but the angel said: “Fear not, Zachariah, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”
Zachariah did not believe the angel’s words. Gabriel then told him that he would be unable to speak until the prophecy was fulfilled, because he had not believed the message sent from God.
The people waiting outside were surprised that Zachariah remained in the Sanctuary so long. When he finally came out, he could not speak and could only communicate by gestures. They understood that he had seen a heavenly vision.
The prophecy of the Archangel Gabriel was fulfilled. Elizabeth conceived and gave birth to a son, John, who would become the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord. Through this birth, God revealed His mercy and prepared His people for the coming of the Savior.