Zacharia
📜 1. Zechariah in the Old Testament (Tanakh)
➤ The Prophet Zechariah (Zechariah)
One of the minor prophets, lived in the 6th century BC.
Author of the Book of Zechariah in the Old Testament.
Contemporary of the Prophet Haggai.
He worked after the Babylonian exile and called for the rebuilding of the Temple.
His visions are rich in angelic apparitions, apocalyptic symbolism, and messianic announcements.
He is particularly known for the prophecy of the Messiah riding a donkey—often referred to Jesus in the Christian context (Zechariah 9:9).
📖 2. Zechariah in the New Testament
➤ Father of John the Baptist
Priest in the Temple during the reign of King Herod.
Married to Elizabeth, both pious but childless.
An angel (Gabriel) announces the birth of his son John.
Zacharias doubts – as a sign of his disbelief, he becomes mute.
Only after the child's birth is he able to speak again and praises God in the "Benedictus" (Luke 1:68–79).
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! For he has visited his people and redeemed them..."
—Luke 1:68
🧠 3. Mystical and Symbolic Meaning
In Christian mysticism or Kabbalah, Zacharias is sometimes associated with the following ideas:
Remembrance of God: The name itself is a promise – that God remembers his people.
In angelology, Zacharias, as John's father, is often associated with the transmission of divine messages (Gabriel as a messenger).
In iconographic art, he is often depicted with a writing tablet or as a temple priest.
📚 4. Further References and Traditions
In Islamic tradition (Zakariya): Zechariah is also a revered prophet in the Quran and the father of Yahya (John). He is an example of patience and trust in God.
In the Orthodox church calendar, St. Zechariah is venerated as a saint.
There are numerous churches, monasteries, and works of art that refer to him.
🙏 Brief Spiritual Interpretation
Zacharias is a figure of transition:
He stands on the threshold from the old to the new.
He embodies doubt that is transformed into faith.
His silence and subsequent praise reflect the inner process of spiritual maturation.
