Category:Zacharias (subject)

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According to the Christian (and Islamic) traditions, Zacharias / Zechariah was the father of John the Baptist.

Overview

Zacharias is mentioned only in the Gospel of Luke. He is introduced as a priest from the division of Abijah and the husband of Elizabeth. The miraculous birth of their son, John the Baptist, was announced to Zacharias by the Angel Gabriel in the Temple. Zacharias was in disbelief as he and his wife were both very old. As a punishment he lost his voice until the birth of his son, when he prophesied the coming of the Messiah.

Later Christian tradition would speculate about the death of Zachariaa, claiming that was killed by Herod the Great at the time of the Massacre of the Innocents, as he refused to reveal the whereabouts of his son.

The Koran also presents Zacharias as a priest and the father of John the Baptist, and emphasized is role as prophet.