The story of ZACHARIAS has been cited in the GOSPEL, in the book of LUKE, chapter one, a quotation of which is as follows:ِ

      Saint Zacharias, a high priest in the Temple, was the father of JOHN THE BAPTIST. His wife ELIZABETH was barren, and he had become an aged priest fulfilling his duties in the Temple. He belonged to the priestly order of ABITAH. His wife also was belonged to a priestly family. They both lived a good life in God's sight, and obeyed fully all the Lord's law and commands. Both of the couple had reached old age, and had no children. After a fervent prayer to God, Zacharias received an angelic message, that; Elizabeth would bear a son (LUKE 1:5ِ25).

      An angel of the Lord appeared to him, and he was alarmed and felt afraid: ``Don't be afraid,'' said the angel. ``God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son! You are to name him John. How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born. He will be a great man in Lord's sight.''

      Zacharias said to the angel:ِ ``How shall I know if this is so? I am an old man and my wife is also old.''

      ``I am GABRIEL'', the angel answered, ``Because you have not believed my message, you will be unable to speak. You will remain silent until the day my promise to you comes true.''

      22ِWhen he came out, he could not speak to people, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Unable to say a word, he made signs to them with his hands.

      24ِSometimes later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and did not leave the house for five months. ``Now at last the Lord Has helped me,'' she said. ``He has taken away my public disgrace.''

      57ِThen the time came and Elizabeth gave birth to a child. Her neighbours and relatives heard how wonderfully good the Lord had been to her, and they all rejoiced.

      59ِWhen the baby was a week old they came to circumcise him, and they were going to name him Zacharias after his father, but his mother said:ِ ``No! His name is to be John.'' They said:ِ ``But you have no relative with that name....''

      63ِZacharias then asked for a writing tablet and wrote:ِ

      ``HIS NAME IS JOHN''

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE