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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Name

Zechariah, father of John the Baptist

Saint ID

S00597

Reported Death Not Before

1

Reported Death Not After

100

Gender
Male
Type of Saint
Other New Testament saints
Related Evidence Records
IDTitle
E00134The History of the Albanians (1.19) recounts the discovery of the relics of *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597) and *Pantaleon (martyr of Nicomedia, S00596), and how king Vačagan was always accompanied by them and was granted a son by the intercession of the saints. Written in Armenian, probably in Caucasian Albania, possibly in the 6th or 7th c.
E00164Greek Calendar of Church Services to be performed at different churches in Oxyrhynchus (Middle Egypt) from the end of October to the end of March of the years 535–536, providing information on the names of many churches, and on the saints’ days celebrated in the city.
E00367Gregory of Tours writes the Glory of the Martyrs (Liber in Gloria Martyrum), in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594. Overview entry.
E00491Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (26), tells of the martyrdom and tomb of *James ('brother of the Lord', S00058) on the Mount of Olives, where he is buried together with *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597) and *Symeon (the God-receiver, elder of the temple of Jerusalem, S00285). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
E00861The History of the Albanians (1.23) recounts the discovery of the relics of Katholikos *Grigoris (S00062), the founder of the Albanian Church, involving a miraculous dream, the help of the relics of other saints, the theft and recovery of some of the new relics, the punishment of a doubter, the distribution of some of the relics, and the ceremonial deposition of their greater part. Written in Armenian, probably in Caucasian Albania, possibly in the 6th c. or 7th c.
E00888The History of the Albanians (1.21) recounts the miraculous discovery of the relics of *Grigoris (katholikos and martyr in Caucasian Albania, ob. early 4th c., S00062), grandson of Gregory the Illuminator, by the Albanian King Vačagan III, involving an elaborate procession with the relics of saints *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597), *Pantaleon (martyr of Nicomedia, S00596), *Gregory the Illuminator (converter of Armenia, S00251) and *Hripsimē (Armenian virgin and martyr of Roman origin, S00071) and *Gayanē (Armenian martyr and companion of Hripsimē, S00026), an intervention by Grigoris himself, and a vision of the king. Written in Armenian, probably in Caucasian Albania, possibly in the 6th c. or 7th c.
E00927Inscribed horse brass with Greek invocations of *Theodore (presumably the soldier and martyr of Amaseia and Euchaita, S00480) and *Zechariah (probably the father of John the Baptist, S00597). Found in Ikonion (Lycaonia, central Asia Minor). Probably 7th c.
E01036Inscribed stone reliquary with relics of *Zechariah (probably the father of John the Baptist, S00597). Found near Seleukeia/Seleucia ad Calycadnum (Isauria, southern Asia Minor). Probably 5th/6th c.
E01068Labels of tombs at Korykos/Corycus (Cilicia, south-east Asia Minor), owned by a church dedicated to *Zechariah (probably the father of John the Baptist, S00597). Probably late 5th or 6th c.
E01084Greek inscription, almost certainly labelling a burial place owned by a church dedicated to *Zechariah, (probably the father of John the Baptist, S00597). Now at the Museum of Adana (Cilicia, south-east Asia Minor); provenance unknown. Probably 6th c.
E01727Lid of a marble reliquary, bearing a Greek dedicatory inscription, just possibly containing relics of a *Zechariah (either the Old Testament prophet, S00283, or the father of John the Baptist, S00597). Found at El Bassah/Khirbet Ma'asub (near Tyre, west Phoenicia). Probably 6th c.
E01999The Life of *Melania the Younger (aristocratic ascetic in Jerusalem, ob. 439, S01134), by Gerontius, a monk at her monastery, recounts how, in 417/418, she placed relics of the prophet *Zechariah (S00283), *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030) and the *Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (S00103) in the oratory of the female monastery she founded on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem; and how she later built a small martyrion, whose dedication is not recorded, for the male monastery she had founded subsequently. Written in Greek or Latin, probably in Jerusalem, c. 450.
E02123Greek list from the city of Oxyrhynchos (Middle Egypt), listing churches, most of them dedicated to saints, including *Viktor (presumably the martyr of Egypt, son of Romanos, S00749), *Neilos (perhaps the martyr of Alexandria, S00405), an Evangelist (possibly *Mark, E00293), *Zechariah (presumably the father of John the Baptist, S00597), *John (the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042), *Gabriel (the Archangel, S00192), *Kollouthos (physician and martyr of Antinoopolis, S00641), *John the Baptist (S00020), *Theodore (presumably the soldier and martyr of Amaseia and Euchaita, S00480), *Ioustos (saint with martyr shrine at Oxyrrhynchos, S01172), and *Phoibammon (presumably the soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080); datable to the 6th century.
E02377Greek painted inscriptions (dipinti) from the north-east chamber of the church of *Kosmas and Damianos (brothers, physicians martyrs of Syria, S00385) of the 'complex of *John the Baptist' in Gerasa/Jerash (Roman province of Arabia), invoking the help of *George (soldier and martyr, S00259), probably of Kosmas and Damianos, and an unspecified *Zechariah (probably the father of John the Baptist, S00597, or the Old Testament prophet, S00283). After 533.
E02524The so-called Madaba Mosaic Map shows a number of labelled places of the cult of saints in the Holy Land (mainly monasteries). Found in Madaba (Roman province of Arabia). Probably mid-6th c.
E02746Three Greek inscriptions from the so-called 'Tomb of Absalom' in the Kidron Valley (Jerusalem, Roman province of Palaestina I), implausibly argued to mention *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597), and Symeon (the God-receiver, elder of the temple of Jerusalem, S00285). Probably 6th c. or later. Once implausibly dated to the 4th c.
E03163The early seventh-century Georgian version of the Lectionary of Jerusalem commemorates on 26 May *Philip (the Apostle, S00109), *Thomas (the Apostle, S00199) and *Zechariah (either the Old Testament prophet, S00283, or the father of John the Baptist, S00597).
E03278The early seventh-century Georgian version of the Lectionary of Jerusalem commemorates on 18 July commemorates *Rachel (wife of the Old Testament patriarch Jacob, S00701) at her tomb on the road to Bethlehem, the deposition of the relics of Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030), John the Baptist (S00020), Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597), *Phokas (martyr of Antioch, S00413), *Tarachos, Probos and Andronikos (martyrs of Anazarbos, Cilicia, S00710).
E03374The early seventh-century Georgian version of the Lectionary of Jerusalem commemorates on 5 September *Zechariah (probably the father of John the Baptist, S00597), and the Apostles *Philip (S00109), and *Thomas (S00199).
E03569Floor-mosaic with a very fragmentarily preserved inscription, once wrongly believed to have mentioned a 'Saint Plesippos', *John the Baptist (S00020), and his father *Zechariah (S00597). Found on the hill of Bēt Šaʽār, close to 'Ein 'Arrub, to the south of Jerusalem, on the road from Jerusalem to Hebron (Roman province of Palaestina I). Probably 6th c.
E03640The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th century, based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Jerusalem, commemorates on 10 February 'Theognios' , the invention of the relics of *Zechariah (either the Old Testament Prophet, S00283, or the father of John the Baptist, S00597), 'Potime' (unidentified), *Thyrsos (martyr of Bithynia, S00612), 'Alexandros' (unidentified), and *Adrianos and Natalia (martyr of Nicomedia and his pious wife, S01342).
E03741The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 16 May *Zechariah (Old Testament prophet, S00283, or father of John the Baptist, S00597), *Helladios (unidentified hieromartyr, S01762), Xenodoros or possibly Xenodochos, an epithet of George, an 8th c. bishop of Melitene, *Iustinus (possibly the philosopher and martyr of Rome, S01140), and Thomas, a 9th c. bishop of Jerusalem.
E03743The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 18 May *James ('brother of the Lord', S00058), *Symeon (the God-receiver) (elder of the temple of Jerusalem, S00285), the priest *Zechariah, (father of John the Baptist, S00597), and Bishop George, an 8th c. bishop and martyr of Melitene during Iconoclasm.
E03748The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th century, based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 23 May *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597), *Symeon (the Younger, stylite near Antioch, S00860), *Isakios and Meletios (bishops of Cyprus, S01635) and 'monk Nestereon', an unidentified figure.
E03750The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 25 May *James ('brother of the Lord', S00058), *Symeon (the God-receiver, elder of the temple of Jerusalem, S00285), *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597), the martyrdom of *Therapon (bishop and martyr of Cyprus, S01751), *Meletios (bishops of Cyprus, S01635) and, as a marginal addition, *George (probably the soldier and martyr, S00259).
E03751The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th century, based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 26 May *Thomas (the Apostle, S00199), *Philip (the Apostle, S00109), *Zechariah, (probably the father of John the Baptist, S00597, or possibly the Old Testament prophet, S00283), and *Therapon (bishop and martyr of Cyprus under Diocletian, S01751).
E03766The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 10 June *Zechariah (either the father of John the Baptist, S00597, or the Old Testament prophet, S00283), *Barnabas (Apostle and companion of Paul, S00786), *Timothy (Apostle and disciple of Paul the Apostle, S00466), and *Onnophrios (Egyptian anchorite, S00055).
E03782The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 26 June *Theodora (Roman empress, wife of Justinian, ob. 548, S01608), *Kyrillos/Cyril (bishop of Alexandria, S00874), *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597) and *Elisabeth (mother of John the Baptist, S01328), and probably *Olbianos (bishop and martyr of Anaea in Asia Minor, S01774).
E03804The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 18 July *Rachel (wife of the Old Testament patriarch Jacob, S00701); the deposition of relics of *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030), *John the Baptist (S00020), *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597) and forty unnamed martyrs (perhaps the *Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, S00103); *Tarachos, Probos and Andronikos (martyrs of Anazarbos, Cilicia, S00710); *Phokas (possibly the martyr of Antioch, S00413); *Athanasios (governor of Egypt and martyr of Klysma, S01216), here presented as a brother of *Sergios (soldier and martyr of Rusafa, S00023) and *Bakchos (soldier and martyr of Barbalissos, S00079); and *Dioskoros (probably the Decian martyr of Egypt, S00230).
E03856The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th century, based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 5 September *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597), and the Apostles *Philip (S00109) and *Thomas (the Apostle, S00199), and *Aaron (first High Priest, brother of Moses, S01427).
E03878The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 27 September the vision and silencing of *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597), and all patriarchs of Jerusalem.
E03943The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 1 December the martyrdom of *James ('brother of the Lord', S00058) and the invention of the relics of *Symeon (the God-receiver, elder of the temple of Jerusalem, S00285) and *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597) and *Nahum (Old Testament prophet, S01806).
E04405Fragmentary Greek inscription, probably containing an excerpt from an imperial letter, mentioning an oratory (eukterios oikos) of *Zechariah (either the Old Testament prophet, S00283, or the father of John the Baptist, S00597), the privilege of asylum, probably awarded to this oratory, and probably a feast (panegyris) of the saint. Found at El Bassah/Betzet, sited on the coast, between Tyre and Ptolemais, but reportedly brought from nearby Khirbet Ma'asub (northwest Galilee/Roman province of Phoenicia). Probably 6th c.
E04560The Greek Life of *Daniel the Stylite (ob. 493, S00342) recounts the life and manifold miracles of an ascetic who, imitating *Symeon the Stylite (the Elder, ob. 459, S00343), lived on a pillar and founded a monastic community at Anaplous on the Bosphorus. The text mentions shrines of martyrs and prophets in Constantinople, the use of holy oil and images, and the transfer of relics of Symeon the Stylite and the *Three Hebrew Youths (of the Old Testament Book of Daniel, S01198) to Constantinople. Written in Constantinople, 493/518.
E04847The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 10 June.
E05735John Malalas in his Chronographia (Book 17), in an account of events in Antioch (Syria) in the early 6th century, mentions the local shrines of *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030), *Michael (the Archangel, S00181), *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), unnamed *Prophets (S00139), *Zachariah (probably the father of John the Baptist, S00597, or the Old Testament Prophet, S00283), and *Kosmas and Damianos (brothers and physician martyrs, S00385), as well as a Gate of *Ioulianos (martyr of Cilicia buried at Antioch, S00305). Written in Greek at Antioch or Constantinople, in the mid-6th c.
E05808Agnellus of Ravenna, in his Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis, written in Latin, describes how members of the imperial family founded a church dedicated to *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597) in Ravenna (northern Italy), and donated a cup to the same church; he claims these events took place in the 5th c. Account written in Ravenna in 830/846.
E06053Two anonymous sermons ('Eusebius Gallicanus', Sermons 30 and 31), on *John the Baptist (S00020). Preached in Latin in Gaul, probably in the 5th c.
E06310Coptic invocation possibly from Panopolis (Upper Egypt) addressing* Michael (the Archangel, S00181), *Gabriel (the Archangel, S00192), *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00030), *Zechariah (presumably the father of John the Baptist, S00597) and *5400 Martyrs (unnamed, S00060) to cause someone physical harm; datable to the end of the 4th/beginning of the 5th century.
E07025The Greek Life of *Auxentios (ascetic and monastic founder in Bithynia, ob. c. 470, S01523) recounts the life and miracles of its hero as an ascetic on mount Oxia, near Chalcedon (north-west Asia Minor, near Constantinople), and founder of a nunnery at Gyrita near Chalcedon. It mentions shrines near Chalcedon. Written in Constantinople, probably in the mid 6th century.
E07922Theodosius, in his On the Topography of the Holy Land, in his list of holy sites at Jerusalem, recounts the martyrdom of *James ('brother of the Lord', S00058), and mentions his tomb on the Mount of Olives, which James himself had built and in which he had buried *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597) and *Symeon (the God-receiver, elder of the temple of Jerusalem, S00285). Written in Latin, perhaps in Africa, 518/540.
E07942The Breviarius, a brief guide to the holy places of Jerusalem, which survives in two distinct versions, mentions a number of buildings and relics associated with saints and Old Testament figures. Written in Latin, presumably in Jerusalem, perhaps (in its two surviving states) around AD 500.
E07959The Paschal Chronicle records that in 415 the remains of *Joseph (Old Testament patriarch, S00277) and *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597) were brought to Constantinople. Written in Greek at Constantinople, c. 630.
E08564Mosaic full-length figures of *Zechariah (father of John the Baptist, S00597) and *John the Baptist (S00020), set between the windows in the main apse of the basilica of Eufrasius at Poreč (ancient Parentium) on Istria. Datable to the mid-6th c.