St. John the Baptist.
The Conception of the Venerable
Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John:
The holy Prophet Malachi prophesied that before the
Messiah's birth His Forerunner would appear, and
would indicate His coming. The Jews therefore in
awaiting the Messiah also awaited the appearance of
His Forerunner. In a city of the hills of Judea in
the land of Palestine lived the righteous priest St
Zachariah and his wife St 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 St Zachariah took his
turn as 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.
St Zachariah was astonished and halted in fear, but
the angel said to him, "Fear not, Zachariah, for
your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will
bear you a son, and you shall call his name
John." But Zachariah 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 Zachariah 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 Zachariah 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.
Orthodox
Church in America
* * *
On this day are celebrated God's mercy, His wondrous
act and His wisdom: His mercy towards the devout and
righteous parents of St John, the aged Zacharias and
Elisabeth, who had all their lives begged a child of God;
the wonder of the conception of John in Elisabeth's
more-than-aged womb; and the wisdom of the dispensation of
man's salvation. For John, God had a specially great
plan: that he should be a prophet and the forerunner of
Christ the Lord, the Saviour of the world. Through His
angels, God revealed the birth of Isaac to the childless
Sarah, and of Samson to the childless Manoah and his wife,
and of John the Baptist to the childless Zacharias and
Elisabeth. Through His angels, God revealed the birth of
those for whom He had a special plan. How could children
be born of aged parents? If someone is curious to find
out, let him not ask men, for men do not know, nor does
natural law (it being beyond natural law), but let him
turn his gaze to the power of almighty God, who made the
whole world from nothing and who, for the creation of
Adam, the first man, used no parents, either young or old.
Instead of being curious, let us thank God that He often
reveals to us His power and mercy and wisdom beyond the
natural law, by which we would otherwise be fettered and,
without these special wonders of God, would fall into
despair and forgetfulness of Him.
From The Prologue From
Ochrid by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich
©1985 Lazarica Press, Birmingham UK
