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The Holy Prophet Zachariah and the Righteous Elizabeth were the parents of the holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John. They were descended from the lineage of Aaron: St. Zachariah, son of Barach, was a priest in the Jerusalem Temple, and St. Elizabeth was the sister of St. Anna, the mother of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Once, during his turn of priestly service in the Temple, St. Zachariah was told by an angel that his aged wife would bear him a son, who "will be great in the sight of the Lord" (Lk 1:15) and "will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias" (Lk 1:17). Zachariah was doubtful of this prediction coming true, and for his weakness of faith he was punished by becoming mute. When Elizabeth gave birth to a son, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit she announced that his name was John, although no one in their family had this name. They asked Zachariah and he also wrote the name John down on a tablet. Immediately the gift of speech returned to him, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, he began to prophesy about his son as the Forerunner of the Lord.