St Zacharias, Patriarch of Jerusalem (+633)

The Venerable Zacharias, Patriarch of Jerusalem, lived at the turn of the sixth and seventh centuries. In 614 the Persian King Khosrow attacked Jerusalem, plundered the city, seized the life-giving Cross of the Lord, killed up to 90,000 Christians and carried many off captive. Among the captives was Saint Zacharias. Afterwards Khosrow was forced to ask the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (610–641) for peace and to return the Cross of the Lord and the captives who remained alive. The Patriarch of Jerusalem was freed too. He reposed in peace in 633.