Saint Zechariah: The Prophet, Patron Saint, and Author of the Book of Zechariah

Saint Zechariah, also known as Zechariah the Prophet, was a prophet in the Hebrew Bible and the author of the Book of Zechariah in the Old Testament. He lived in the 5th century BC and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Saint Zechariah is the patron saint of fathers, barristers, notaries, and tailors and is invoked against diseases of the eye.

Saint Zechariah was the son of priest Jehoiada and his wife Elizabeth. He was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah. According to the Bible, Saint Zechariah was a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem during the reign of King Darius of Persia. He was chosen by God to deliver a message of hope and encouragement to the Israelites, who had recently returned from exile in Babylon. In his prophecy, Saint Zechariah foretold the coming of the Messiah and the redemption of Israel.

One of the most famous stories about Saint Zechariah is the account of the angel Gabriel visiting him in the Temple to announce that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son, who would be named John. This son would later become known as John the Baptist, and is considered to be one of the greatest of the prophets.

There is not much historical information about Saint Zechariah's life events, birth and death dates, canonization date and feast days as they are not recorded in the Bible. However, the book of Zechariah is considered one of the most profound and complex books of the Old Testament, and is still studied and revered by scholars and theologians today. Saint Zechariah is the last of the Old Testament prophets whose name appears in the New Testament. He is also one of the four prophets mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.

Saint Zechariah is an important figure in both Jewish and Christian tradition. As a prophet, he delivered a message of hope and redemption to the Israelites. Though not much is known about his historical life events, his prophecy in the book of Zechariah is still respected and revered today.