Book of Ancient Saints: Volume 1

Saint Elizabeth

Elizabeth was born around 1st century BC in Hebron, Roman Empire. She is the wife of the priest named Zechariah, the mother of John the Baptist, the cousin of the Virgin Mary, the daughters of Aaron. Elizabeth and Zechariah were both righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.

One day at the sanctuary, as the angel Gabriel told Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth,  would bear a son, he doubted. As the result of Zechariah's doubt, angel Gabriel punished him by having him unable to speak and hear until the day that these things will be fulfilled. Then when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, "So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others."

During those days, her cousin, Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled' (Luke 1:39-45).

And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.  He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever" (Luke 1:46-55).

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home in Nazareth. When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child according to their Jewish custom, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but Elizabeth said in reply, "No. He will be called John." But they answered her, "There is no one among your relative who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father, Zechariah, what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name,' and all were amazed. Immediately hos mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all the neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him (Luke 1:57-66).

Elizabeth was venerated in Roman Catholic Church, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion Church, Lutheran Church, and a non-Christian religion, Islam. According to Roman Catholic and Lutheran, her feast day is on November 5, while according to Eastern Orthodox and Anglican Communion, her feast day is on September 5. Saint Elizabeth is patroness saint of all pregnant women.