Sts. Zacharias and Elizabeth

Zacharias was a priest of the Temple and Elizabeth his wife, both righteous and both old and childless. While he offered incense, the Archangel Gabriel told him he would have a son, and because he doubted he was struck dumb until the child was named John. When the pregnant Virgin Mary visited, the baby leapt in Elizabeth’s womb. Tradition says Zacharias was killed in the Temple for hiding his son from Herod.

• Feast: September 5 (New Calendar)
• Lived: 1st century
• Place: Ein Karem