Eastern Rite ~ Feasts of 23 September AM 7533

Today is the Feast of the Conception of the Honorable and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.

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The Conception of the Venerable Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John: The holy Prophet Malachias prophesied that before the Messiah’s birth His Forerunner would appear, and would indicate His coming. The Jews therefore in awaiting the Messias also awaited the appearance of His Forerunner.

In a city of the hills of Judea in the land of Palestine lived the righteous priest Saint Zacharias and his wife Saint Elizabeth, zealously observing the commandments of the Lord. The couple, however, had a misfortune: they remained childless in their old age, and they prayed unceasingly to God to grant them a child.

Once, when Saint Zacharias took his turn as a priest at the Temple of Jerusalem, he went into the Sanctuary to offer incense. Going behind the veil of the Sanctuary, he beheld an angel of God standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

Saint Zacharias was astonished and halted in fear, but the angel said to him, “Fear not, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” But Zacharias did not believe the words of the heavenly messenger, and then the angel said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you the good news. Behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass because you did not believe my words....”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zacharias and they were astonished that he had not come out from the Sanctuary after so long a time. And when he did come out, he was supposed to pronounce a blessing upon the people, but could not do so because he had been struck speechless. When Zacharias explained by gestures that he was unable to speak, the people then understood that he had experienced a vision. The prophecy of the Archangel was fulfilled, and Righteous Elizabeth was delivered from her barrenness and gave birth to John, the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord.

Troparion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “Be quick to anticipate”)
Be glad, O barren one who has not given birth until now, / for behold, you have conceived the lamp of the Sun, / and He shall enlighten all the earth, which is afflicted with blindness. / Dance, O Zacharias, and cry out with boldness: / The Prophet of the Most High is about to be born.

Kontakion — Tone 1

(Podoben: “The angelic choir...”)
The great and renowned Zacharias rejoices radiantly, / and exults with his wife Elizabeth; / for worthily does she conceive John the Baptist, / whom the Archangel announced joyously, / and men honor as an initiate of grace.