Skip to content
Greek Name Days

6th century BC

Prophet Zechariah

The eleventh of the Twelve Minor Prophets, who after the return from the Babylonian exile (6th century BC) encouraged, together with Haggai, the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.

8 February

Biography

Zechariah was the eleventh of the twelve Minor Prophets of the Old Testament, son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo, from the tribe of Levi. His name means "God remembers".

Together with the prophet Haggai he urged the Jews, after their return from the Babylonian exile around 537–536 BC, to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. According to Jewish tradition, the two prophets were also members of the Great Assembly, which fixed the books of the Old Testament.

Zechariah died at a great age and was buried near Haggai's tomb. The emperor Theodosius the Great later built a church in his honour in Constantinople.

Sources and further reading