Zachary and Elizabeth

Zachary and Elizabeth (1st century), parents of John the Baptist. All that we know about them for certain is contained in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1: their words recorded there have been used in the Christian liturgy daily (Zachary's canticle, the Benedictus) and less frequently (as in the Gospel for the feast of the Visitation). Eastern tradition, supported by Basil and Cyril of Alexandria, asserts that Zachary died as a martyr in the Temple by command of Herod. The Roman Martyrology, however, has nothing to say about Zachary's supposed martyrdom, but it joins Elizabeth to his cult. Feast of both: 5 November.

Bibliography
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• AA.SS. Nov. III (1910), 5–29; Propylaeum, p. 498; B.L.S., xi. 39–40