Armenian Church commemorates Prophets Ezekiel, Ezra, and Zechariah

Today, the Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates the Holy Prophets Ezekiel, Ezra, and Zechariah, father John the Baptist.

Prophet Ezekiel was one of the priests serving in the Temple of Jerusalem. After the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, takes Jerusalem in 597 B.C., Ezekiel is exiled with other Israelites. Four years later, God calls Ezekiel to Him in order to make him His prophet. From the place of exile, Ezekiel warns as Jews, who had captivated Jerusalem, as well as the people remaining in Jerusalem. After the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C., he addresses the people, consoling and giving hope words.

The beginning of the Prophet Ezra’s priesthood is considered to be 397 B.C. His most important deed was keeping Israelites back from intermarriages, which became the reason for not only forgetting true God but also distorted their national traits and image. Ezra also collected and classified the rules of Moses.

Prophet Zechariah is John the Baptist’s father, who served in the temple of Jerusalem. He and his wife, Elizabeth, who was the sister of Anna, St. Mary’s mother, had no children for many years. When Zechariah, being already an aged man, was offering a sacrifice in the Temple, an angel appears to him and tells him that his wife, Elizabeth, will bear him a son. For doubting the good tidings of the Angel Zechariah is punished to be unable to speak and to remain silent until the day of birth of his son, John the Baptist.