Zechariah (priest)

The priest Zechariah was according to the biblical narrative in the New Testament married to Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist.

In the detailed birth story (Luke 1:5-25; 57-80 EU), the birth of John announced his old father Zacharias by the angel Gabriel during his priestly service in the temple at Jerusalem. Zechariah is silent because he does not believe the angel, and can only speak as he to be circumcised his son the name proposal, which initially came from his wife, accepts what Zacharias speaks the prayer that became known as the Benedictus again. The temporary dumbness of Zacharias is also addressed in the medieval hymn of John Paul the Deacon.

In addition, he is mentioned in the Koran under the name Zakariya as God's prophet and precursor of Islam. According to Muslim tradition, his wife and mother of Yahyâ (John the Baptist ) Asha is called; this should have been at the same time mother of Maryam ( the Virgin Mary), the mother of Isa ( Jesus).

His feast day in the Catholic Church is September 23, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Orthodox, Armenian and Coptic Church September 5 and in the Syriac Orthodox Church, the first of there six Sundays of Advent.

A Kopfreliquar of Zacharias is shown in Stams at a side altar.