Zacharias the Prophet - Hand-Painted Icon

Commemorates on: February 8

The Prophet Zacharias was the son of Barachias, and a contemporary of the Prophet Aggeus. In the days of the Babylonian captivity, he prophesied, as it says, in the book of Ezra, " to the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem" he aided Zorobabel in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. In the book of Ezra he is called "Zacharias the son of Addo (or Iddo)" but in his own prophetic book he is called more fully "Zacharias, the son of Barachias, the son of Addo the Prophet". When the captivity returned from Babylon, he came to dwell in Jerusalem in his old age. His book of prophecy is divided into fourteen chapters and has the eleventh place among the books of the minor Prophets; his name means Yah is renowned." Sozomen. reports that under the Emperor Honorius, Zacharias holy relics were found in Eleutheropolis of Palestine. The Prophet appeared in a dream to a certain Calemerus, telling him where he would find his tomb. His body was found to be incorrupt.