Monday, 24 June 2024

Day of the Holy Spirit; Nativity of St John the Baptist

Monday of the 1st week after Pentecost

Day of the Holy Spirit
Nativity of St John the Baptist

50 days after Pascha · Tone 7 · Red cross circle (great feast typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

★ Nativity of St John the Baptist

The wonderful story of the Forerunner’s conception and birth is told in the first chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. Together with the Most Holy Theotokos and Christ Himself, both his conception and his birth are commemorated as Feasts of the Church. His name, Johanan in Hebrew, means “The Lord is Gracious.” The Prologue adds: “The news of the angel’s appearing to Zacharias, of his dumbness and of the loosening of his tongue at the exact moment that he wrote ‘John’, was carried throughout all Israel, coming to Herod’s ears. So, when he sent men to kill all the infants around Bethlehem, he sent men off to Zacharias’ family house in the hills, to slay John also. But Elisabeth hid the child in good time. The king was enraged at this, and sent an executioner to the Temple to kill Zacharias (for it was then his turn to serve in the Temple again). Zacharias was killed between the court and the Temple, and his blood clotted and solidified on the paving slabs, and remained as an enduring witness against Herod. Elisabeth hid herself and the child in a cave, where she soon died. The young John remained in the wilderness alone, in the care of God and His angels.” See September 5.

Nativity of the holy glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

Today the Church keeps with great solemnity the Nativity of the holy and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, the son of the priest Zacharias and of righteous Elizabeth, kinswoman of the Most Holy Theotokos. The Gospel of Saint Luke recounts how the Archangel Gabriel was sent into the Temple to announce to the aged priest, while he offered incense in the sanctuary, that his prayer had been heard and that his barren wife would bear a son who should go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias. Because Zacharias doubted, he was struck dumb until the day of fulfilment. When Elizabeth conceived, she hid herself for five months, and in the sixth month received the visit of the Mother of God; at the salutation of Mary the babe leapt in his mother's womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, blessed her as the Mother of her Lord. At the time of the birth, friends and kinsfolk wished to name the child after his father, but Elizabeth said, His name is John; and when Zacharias wrote on a tablet, His name is John, his tongue was loosed and he prophesied of the salvation that the Lord was bringing to His people and of the office of his son to prepare His ways. The feast falls exactly six months before the Nativity of Christ, so that the Forerunner who must decrease while Christ must increase is born when the daylight begins to shorten, and the Lord is born when it begins to lengthen. The hymns of the Church proclaim that by his birth the muteness of his father and the barrenness of his mother were undone, and the incarnation of the Son of God was foreshown to the world. The Nativity of the Forerunner is one of the great feasts of the Orthodox year, kept with an All-Night Vigil, and the only saint apart from the Mother of God whose nativity, conception and beheading are all celebrated as feasts in their own right.

Righteous Youths James and John of Meniugi

The Righteous Youths James and John of Meniugi were brothers who were murdered by miscreants while still children, James aged three and John aged five. Their grave became a place of healing in the village of Meniugi in the Novgorod lands, and many sick who came to it were granted recovery through their innocent intercession. The Russian Church numbers them among the children-martyrs whose prayers, like those of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem, are prized for their childlike purity. The discovery of their incorrupt relics in the sixteenth century led to their local glorification in the diocese of Novgorod.

Translation of the relics of the Hieromartyr Athanasius of Brest

Saint Athanasius was born about 1597 in a Belarusian family of modest means and received a thorough education, mastering Greek and Latin as well as Polish and the Ruthenian tongue of his homeland. After serving for a time as a tutor in noble households of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, he entered the monastery attached to the Church of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius in 1627, and afterwards the Holy Ascension Monastery at Dubovsk, where he was tonsured and ordained hieromonk. In 1640 the brethren of Saint Simeon Monastery in Brest elected him their abbot, and from this office he conducted a tireless struggle against the Union of Brest of 1596, by which the Orthodox of those parts had been pressed into communion with Rome. He travelled to Warsaw to plead the cause of his persecuted flock, suffered imprisonment and indignities, and continued to denounce the Union as a betrayal of the Faith. After the Cossack rising of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, the Jesuits sought once more to compel him to accept the Union, and when he refused he was taken into the forest near Brest on 5 September 1648 and shot. His body was cast into a pit, but the place was revealed by a child to the brethren of his monastery, who raised the relics on 8 May 1649 and laid them with honour at the right kliros of the church of Saint Simeon. The translation of his relics is kept on this day as one of the commemorations of the saint, while his repose is observed on 5 September. He is venerated as a confessor and defender of Orthodoxy in the lands of Poland and Belarus.

Synaxis of Sts Zacharias and Elisabeth

Holy Martyrs Orentius, Pharnacius, Eros, Firmus, Firminus, Cyriacus and Longinus

3rd c.

They were all brothers, soldiers together during the reign of Maximian. During a Roman campaign against the Scythians beyond the Danube, Orentius fought in single combat with Marathom, a Scythian champion like Goliath, and slew him. The Roman commander ordered a sacrifice to the idols in thanksgiving for the victory; but Orentius and his brothers declared that they were Christians and would make no such sacrifice. In a moment, the champion of the battle became a persecuted confessor: without regard for his great victory, he and his brothers were sentenced to exile. All of them died on the way, from hunger or torture.

Daily readings

Vespers

OT — Composite 10 - Genesis 17.15-17, 19; 18.11-14; 21.1-8

The Lord God said to Abraham: As for Sara your wife, her name shall not be called Sara, but Sarra shall be her name. I will bless her and will give you a child from her; and I will bless it and it shall be for nations and kings of nations will come from it. And Abraham fell on his face, and laughed and said in his mind; Shall a son be born in my hundredth year? And shall Sarra who is ninety bear a child? God said to Abraham: Yes; see, your wife Sarra will bear you a son and you will call his name Isaac; and I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant. Now Abraham and Sarra were old, advanced in years. But Sarra laughed to herself, saying: The thing has not happened to me until now; and my lord is old. And the Lord God said to Abraham: Why did Sarra laugh to herself, saying: Shall I really give birth? For I am aged. But nothing is impossible for God. And the Lord visited Sarra, as He had said, and she conceived and bore a son to Abraham in their old age at the time the Lord had said to him. But he circumcised him on the eighth day, as the Lord God had commanded him. And Abraham was a hundred when Isaac his son was born to him. But Sarra said: The Lord has given me laughter; for whoever hears will rejoice with me. And she said: Who will announce to Abraham that Sarra is suckling a child, for I have born a child in my old age? And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham held a great banquet on the day his son Isaac was weaned.

Vespers

OT — Composite 11 - Judges 13.2-8, 13-14, 17-18, 21

In those days there was a man of the tribe of Dan and his name was Manoe, and his wife was barren and had not borne a child. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to his wife and said to her: See, you are barren and have not borne a child or conceived a son. But now take care, and do not drink wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. Because see, you will conceive in the womb and bear a son, and no iron shall touch his head, because the child is to be a Nazarite to God from his mother’s womb. And the woman came and spoke to her husband, saying: A Man of God came to me, and his appearance was as the appearance on an Angel of God, exceedingly bright. And he said: See, you will conceive in the womb and bear a son; and now take care, and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazarite of God from the womb to the day of his death. And Manoe besought the Lord and said: My Lord, let the man of God, whom You sent, come again to us, and enlighten us what we should do for the child that is to be born. Then the Angel came to Manoe and said: Of all the things that I said to your wife, let her take care. She is not to eat anything that comes from the vine; she is not to drink wine or strong drink. And Manoe said to the Angel of the Lord: What is your name? That when your word comes to pass, we may glorify you. And the Angel of the Lord said to him: Why do you ask my name? For it is wonderful. And the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoe and his wife.

Vespers

OT — Composite 8 - Isaiah 40, 41, 45, 48, 54

Thus says the Lord: Comfort, comfort my people, says God. Priests, speak to the heart of Jerusalem. Comfort her, because her humiliation has been completed; for her has sin has been abolished, because she has received from the Lord’s hand double for her sins. A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God. Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill made low; what is crooked will become straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Go up onto a high mountain, you who bring good tidings to Sion; lift up your voice with strength, you who bring good tidings to Jerusalem. Lift it up, do not be afraid. I the Lord God, I, the God of Israel, will hearken and will not forsake them; but I will open rivers from the mountains and springs in the middle of plains. I will turn the wilderness into water meadows and the thirsty earth with water courses. Let the heavens rejoice from on high and let the clouds rain justice. Let the earth sprout and blossom with mercy and justice. Announce a voice of gladness to the end of the earth and let this be heard: Say that the Lord has delivered his servant Jacob. And if they thirst through deserts, he will bring water for them from a rock. Rejoice you barren who have never given birth, break out and shout, you who have never known birth pangs, for the children of the deserted are more than those of her who has a husband.

Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 1.24-25, 57-68, 76, 80

²⁴And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁴And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, ²⁵Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. ²⁵Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men. ⁵⁷Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁷Now Elisabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. ⁵⁸And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁸And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. ⁵⁹And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. ⁶⁰And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. ⁶⁰And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. ⁶¹And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. ⁶¹And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. ⁶²And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. ⁶²And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. ⁶³And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. ⁶³And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. ⁶⁴And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. ⁶⁴And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God. ⁶⁵And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. ⁶⁵And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. ⁶⁶And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. ⁶⁶And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, ⁶⁷And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, ⁶⁸Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, ⁶⁸Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, ⁷⁶And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; ⁷⁶Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways; ⁸⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

⁸⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Ephesians — Ephesians 5.8-19

⁸for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light ⁸For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: ⁹(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ⁹(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) ¹⁰proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; ¹⁰Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. ¹¹and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; ¹¹And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. ¹²For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. ¹²for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. ¹³But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light. ¹³But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. ¹⁴Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. ¹⁴Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.

¹⁵Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; ¹⁵See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, ¹⁶redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁶Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁷Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁸And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁹Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; ¹⁹speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Epistle

— Forerunner

Romans — Romans 13.11-14.4

¹¹And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

¹¹And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed. ¹²The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. ¹²The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. ¹³Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. ¹⁴But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. ¹⁴But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

¹Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

¹But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. ²For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. ²One man hath faith to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs. ³Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. ³Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. ⁴Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. ⁴Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 18.10-20

¹⁰Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. ¹⁰See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. ¹¹For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. ¹¹ ¹²How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? ¹²How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray? ¹³And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. ¹³And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray. ¹⁴Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. ¹⁴Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

¹⁵Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. ¹⁶But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. ¹⁶But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ¹⁷And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. ¹⁷And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican. ¹⁸Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ¹⁸Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. ¹⁹Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Gospel

— Forerunner

Luke — Luke 1.1-25, 57-68, 76, 80

¹Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

¹Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, ²even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, ²Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; ³it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus; ³It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. ⁴that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

⁵There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

⁵There was in the days of Herod, king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. ⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. ⁷And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

⁸Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, ⁸And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, ⁹according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ⁹According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense. ¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. ¹¹And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹¹And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. ¹²And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. ¹³But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. ¹³But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. ¹⁴And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. ¹⁴And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁵For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. ¹⁶And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God. ¹⁷And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. ¹⁷And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. ¹⁸And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. ¹⁸And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. ¹⁹And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. ¹⁹And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. ²⁰And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. ²⁰And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. ²¹And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple. ²¹And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. ²²And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. ²²And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb. ²³And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house. ²³And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. ²⁴And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁴And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, ²⁵Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. ²⁵Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men. ⁵⁷Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁷Now Elisabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. ⁵⁸And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁸And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. ⁵⁹And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. ⁶⁰And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. ⁶⁰And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. ⁶¹And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. ⁶¹And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. ⁶²And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. ⁶²And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. ⁶³And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. ⁶³And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. ⁶⁴And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. ⁶⁴And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God. ⁶⁵And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. ⁶⁵And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. ⁶⁶And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. ⁶⁶And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, ⁶⁷And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, ⁶⁸Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, ⁶⁸Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, ⁷⁶And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; ⁷⁶Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways; ⁸⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

⁸⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.