Name day
Zachary: Name Day and Patron Saint
Zachary keeps the name day on 5 September, or 18 September on the Old Calendar: the feast of St Zacharias the Prophet, father of St John the Baptist.
- Patron saint
- St Zacharias the Prophet, father of St John the Baptist
- New Calendar
- 5 September
- Old Calendar
- 18 September
- Next name day
- 5 September 2027 (New Calendar) · 18 September 2027 (Old Calendar)
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of September
The patron saint: St Zacharias the Prophet, father of St John the Baptist
Kept on 5 September, or 18 September on the Old Calendar · Holy Prophet Zacharias and Righteous Elizabeth
St Zacharias was a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, of the line of Aaron and of the priestly course of Abijah, who lived with his wife Elizabeth at Hebron in Judea. Both were righteous before God, but they had grown old without a child. One day, when the lot fell to him to offer incense in the sanctuary, the Archangel Gabriel appeared at the right side of the altar and told him that his prayer had been heard: Elizabeth would bear a son, to be named John, who would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. Zacharias doubted because of their age, and he was left unable to speak until the word came true. When the child was to be named, he wrote on a tablet, “His name is John”, and at once his tongue was loosed; filled with the Holy Spirit, he praised God and prophesied that his son would be the Forerunner of the Lord. When Herod sought to kill the infant John, his soldiers came to Zacharias in the Temple and demanded to know where the boy was. He answered that he served the Lord and did not know where his son was, and on Herod’s order they killed him between the Temple and the altar. The Church honours him as a prophet and keeps his memory on 5 September (18 September on the Old Calendar). The faithful ask his prayers for faith that does not waver, for patience while waiting on God, and for courage to stand firm.
What the faithful pray for
- faith that does not doubt God’s promises
- patience while waiting on God
- couples who long for a child
- priests and all who serve at the altar
- courage to stand firm under pressure
Other saints named Zachary
Prophet Zachariah
Kept on 8 February, or 21 February on the Old Calendar
St Zacharias
Kept on 21 February, or 6 March on the Old Calendar
Venerable Zachariah the Recluse
Kept on 24 March, or 6 April on the Old Calendar
Zachary in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Zachary, Zachariah, Zacharias, Zechariah, Zachery, Zakary, Zacarías | Zach, Zack, Zac, Zak |
| Greek | Ζαχαρίας, Zacharias | Ζάχος, Zachos |
| Russian | Захария, Захар, Zakhariya, Zakhar | |
| Ukrainian | Захар, Zakhar | |
| Serbian | Захарије, Zaharije | |
| Romanian | Zaharia | |
| Georgian | ზაქარია, Zakaria | |
| Arabic | زكريا, Zakaria, Zakariya |
An icon for Zachary
We don't carry an icon of St Zacharias the Prophet, father of St John the Baptist yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.
Closest to it
For every name: the Guardian Angel, given at baptism
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you: Consecration, $49.
A name-day gift for Zachary
Name-Day Gift Set $213$149
A patron saint's folding diptych chosen by first name, a stainless steel crucifix and a prayer rope, in a gift box with a card giving the saint's life and feast day.
The St Nicholas the Wonderworker & Guardian Angel Folding Diptych is chosen, for the Guardian Angel every Orthodox Christian receives at baptism, and the name is filled in.
Questions
When is Zachary’s name day?
Zachary keeps the name day on 5 September on the New Calendar and on 18 September on the Old Calendar, the feast of St Zacharias the Prophet, father of St John the Baptist.
Who is the patron saint of Zachary?
St Zacharias the Prophet, father of St John the Baptist. St Zacharias was a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, of the line of Aaron and of the priestly course of Abijah, who lived with his wife Elizabeth at Hebron in Judea.
How is Zachary written in other languages?
Greek: Ζαχαρίας (Zacharias), Russian: Захария (Zakhariya), Ukrainian: Захар (Zakhar), Serbian: Захарије (Zaharije), Romanian: Zaharia and Georgian: ზაქარია (Zakaria). Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for Zachary?
We don’t carry an icon of St Zacharias the Prophet, father of St John the Baptist yet, and you can ask for one on this page. Every Orthodox Christian has a Guardian Angel from baptism, so the Name-Day Gift Set ($149) with the Guardian Angel diptych is always fitting.
More about name days
- Name Days Explained: What They Are, How Families Keep Them, and Gifts
A name day is the feast of the saint whose name you carry. Here is how to find yours on either calendar, how Greek and Russian families keep it, and what to give.
- Orthodox Patron Saint: How to Find Yours (by Name, Day or Choice)
Your Orthodox patron saint is the saint whose name you were given at baptism. Here is how to find yours by name, by the day of your birth or baptism, or by choice, and how to keep the name day.
- Find another name
Sources
- OCA: Holy Prophet Zachariah and Righteous Elizabeth, parents of Saint John the Baptist
- Azbyka.ru: St Dimitry of Rostov, Житие святого пророка Захарии
- Holy Trinity Orthodox: The Holy Prophet Zachariah and Holy Righteous Elizabeth
- OCA: Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John
- Orthodox Church in America, Lives of the Saints
- eortologio.net, Greek name-day calendar (Εορτολόγιο)
- azbyka.ru, Месяцеслов (the Russian Church's calendar of saints by name)