Official feasts used to be an important part of the human community. People would gather together to remember something sacred, express their faith and hope for the future, and / or just be together formally, recognizing each other as being part of a shared community. Few things express a desire for shared companionship and social intimacy more than dining together. Sadly, the gathering together for feasting is increasingly a relic of the past – at least here in the West.
It need not be so! Today we will remember the ancient feasts.
The Feast Day of St. Elizabeth and St. Zechariah
This Feast Day is a Christian religious celebration of St. Elizabeth and St. Zechariah, the mother and father of John the Baptist, and relatives of Mary, mother of Jesus, according to the Gospel of Luke and in Islamic tradition. Elizabeth was past normal child-bearing age when she conceived and gave birth to John.
According to the Gospel of Lukechapter 1, Elizabeth was “of the daughters of Aaron”. She and her husband Zechariah/Zachariah were “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (1:5–7), but childless. While he was in the temple of the Lord (1:8–12), Zachariah was visited by the angelGabriel:
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
— Luke 1:13–15
The date on which this occurred, according to theologian Adam C. English, “is September 24, based on computations from the Jewish calendar in accordance with Leviticus 23 regarding the Day of Atonement.”
Zachariah doubted whereby he could know this since both he and his wife were old. The angel identified himself as Gabriel and told Zachariah that he would be “dumb, and not able to speak” until the words were fulfilled, because he did not believe. When the days of his ministry were complete, he returned to his house (Luke 1:16–23).
After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
— Luke 1:24–25
According to the account, the angel Gabriel was then sent to Nazareth in Galilee to her relative Mary, a virgin, betrothed to a man called Joseph, and informed her that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bring forth a son to be called Jesus. Mary was also informed that her “relative Elizabeth” had begun her sixth month of pregnancy, and Mary traveled to “a town in the hill country of Judah”, to visit Elizabeth (Luke 1:26–40).
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Matthew Henry comments, “Mary knew that Elizabeth was with child, but it does not appear that Elizabeth had been told anything of her relative Mary’s being designed for the mother of the Messiah; and therefore what knowledge she appears to have had of it must have come by a revelation, which would be a great encouragement to Mary.” After Mary heard Elizabeth’s blessing, she spoke the words now known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55).
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
— Luke 1:56–64
That is the last mention of Elizabeth, who is not mentioned in any other chapter in the Bible. The chapter continues with the prophecy of Zachariah (known as the Benedictus) and ends with the note that John “grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts” until his ministry to Israel began; so it is unknown how long Elizabeth and her husband lived after that (Luke 1:65–80).
Since the Medieval era, Elizabeth’s greeting, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,” has formed the second part of the Hail Mary prayer.
Elizabeth is mentioned in several books of the Apocrypha, most prominently in the Protevangelion of James, in which the birth of her son, the subsequent murder of her husband, as well as her and John’s miraculous escape during the Massacre of the Innocents are chronicled.
Elizabeth (Arabic: Isha’, daughter of Faqudh), the wife of Zakaria, the mother of Yahya, is an honored woman in Islam. Although Zachariah himself is frequently mentioned by name in the Qur’an, Elizabeth, while not mentioned by name, is referenced. She is revered by Muslims as a wise, pious and believing person who, like her relative Mary, was exalted by God to a high station. She lived in the household of Imran, and is said to have been a descendant of the prophet and priestHarun.
Zachariah and his wife were both devout and steadfast in their duties. They were, however, both very old and they had no son. Therefore, Zachariah would frequently pray to God for a son. This was not only out of the desire to have a son but also because he wanted someone to carry on the services of the Temple of prayer and to continue the preaching of the Lord’s message to the children of Israel before his death. God cured Elizabeth’s barrenness and granted Zachariah a son, Yahya (John the Baptist), who became a prophet. God thus granted the wishes of the couple because of their faith, trust and love for God. In the Qur’an, God speaks of Zachariah, his wife, and John, and describes the three as being humble servants of the Lord:
So We answered his prayer, granted him John, and made his wife fertile. Indeed, they used to race in doing good, and call upon Us with hope and fear, totally humbling themselves before Us.
In Sunni Islamic reports of al-Tabari and al-Masudi, Elizabeth is said to have been a daughter of Imran, and thus, a sister of Mary. Therefore, their children Jesus (Isa) and John (Yahya) are believed to have been cousins. In other accounts, Elizabeth is said to be a daughter of Fakudh, and a sister of Imran’s wife Hannah.
In Shia hadith she is named Hananah, and is identified as a sister of Mary’s mother Hannah. Abu Basir recorded that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq, the great grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, had stated: “Hannah, the wife of Imran, and Hananah, the wife of Zechariah, were sisters. He goes on to say that Mary was born from Hannah and John was born from Hananah. Mary gave birth to Jesus and he was the son of the daughter of John’s aunt. John was the son of the aunt of Mary, and the aunt of one’s mother is like one’s aunt.”
Mandaeism
In Mandaeism, Enišbai (Classical Mandaic: ࡏࡍࡉࡔࡁࡀࡉ, romanized: ʿnišbai) is the Mandaic name for Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Enišbai is mentioned in chapters 18, 21, and 32 of the Mandaean Book of John.
Origen suggested that the Zechariah mentioned in Matthew 23:35 as having been killed between the temple and the altar may be the father of John the Baptist.
Death
The martyrdom of Zachariah in the Temple during the Massacre of the Innocents; and the Flight of Elizabeth, as depicted in a miniature from the Paris Gregory, a 9th-century manuscript codex
The Gospel of James, a 2nd-century apocryphal work, recounts that, at the time of the massacre of the Innocents, when King Herod ordered the slaughter of all males under the age of two in an attempt to prevent the prophesied Messiah from coming to Israel, Zechariah refused to divulge the whereabouts of his son (who was in hiding), and he was therefore murdered by Herod’s soldiers. This account is also present in subsequent Eastern Orthodox tradition.
His relics uncovering is commemorated by Greek Orthodox Church on 11 February, and on 1 December occurs commemoration of his, James and Simeon relics translation in 351, and 25 May is commemoration of their relics discover also in 351.
Tomb venerated in Byzantine period
The Tomb of Absalom, built in the 1st century CE in the Kidron Valley; an inscription added three centuries later claims that it is Zechariah’s tomb.
In 2003, a 4th-century inscription on the so-called Tomb of Absalom, a 1st-century monument in Jerusalem, was deciphered as, “This is the tomb of Zachariah, the martyr, the holy priest, the father of John.” This suggests to some scholars that it is the burial place of Zechariah the father of John the Baptist. Professor Gideon Foerster at the Hebrew University states that the inscription tallies with a 6th-century Christian text by a pilgrim named Theodosius which states that Zechariah was buried with Simon the Elder and James the brother of Jesus, and believes that both are authentic. Zias and Puech suggest the inscription may refer to another ‘Zekariah’ mentioned by Josephus and the Talmud who was martyred in the time of Vespasian. They also suggest the inscription casts doubt on the tomb being Absalom’s. Although it was referred to as such in the 1st century, Absalom had lived centuries earlier.
Zechariah (Arabic: زكريا Zakariyya) is also a prophet in Islam, and is mentioned in the Qur’an as the father of Yaḥyā (John the Baptist). Zechariah is also believed by some Muslims to have been a martyr. An old tradition narrates that Zechariah was sawn in half, in a death which resembles that attributed to Isaiah in Lives of the Prophets.
What do you eat for the Feast day of St. Elizabeth and St. Zechariah?
We know very little about St. Elizabeth and St. Zechariah, beyond what is told to us in the Gospel account. However, one fun way to celebrate them is to make feast day food that might remind you of their story. One unique part of their story is that Zechariah was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who informed him of his wife’s impending pregnancy. He did not believe right away, so as a sign, he was unable to speak until after the child – John the Baptist was born. Later, Gabriel then visited Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and told her of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Their encounter became one of the most famous exchanges in the New Testament.
You can make angel food cake to help celebrate their story and the delivery of the good news that John was to be miraculously born.
You only need 6 ingredients to make angel food cake. With so little ingredients, understand that each one is imperative to the cake’s final taste and texture. Here’s the breakdown:
Ingredients:
Granulated Sugar: The recipe begins with granulated sugar. Pulse it in a food processor to create superfine sugar. Superfine sugar’s granules are the best size to provide optimal structure for angel food cake. It’s not as coarse as granulated sugar and not as fine as confectioners’ sugar. Granulated sugar is simply too coarse, while confectioners’ sugar dissolves too quickly in the egg whites.
Cake Flour: Cake flour is a low protein flour and yields a tender angel food cake. Do not use all-purpose flour because the cake will taste like white bread…! In a pinch, you can use this cake flour substitute. But real cake flour is ideal.
Salt: Adds flavor.
Egg Whites: You’ll notice there’s no baking powder or baking soda. The egg whites are actually the sole leavening ingredient providing all the cake’s rise. Use freshly separated eggs because they aerate the best. Carton egg whites or egg whites that have been frozen won’t expand as much during the whipping process, which will negatively affect the rise of your cake. You’ll have a lot of leftover egg yolks, so make some lemon curd and serve it with the cake!
Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar is an acid and stabilizes the whipped egg whites, just as it does in my chocolate swirled meringue cookies too. Without it, the cake would collapse. Other acids, such as lemon juice, can work but they aren’t nearly as effective. Cream of tartar is found in the spice aisle and is actually a common baking ingredient. I have many recipes calling for it!
Vanilla Extract: Adds flavor.
Directions:
I’m confident this will be the most perfect angel food cake to ever hit your lips. We can’t achieve angel food cake perfection for free, so make sure you follow these steps closely.
Pulse the granulated sugar into superfine sugar. Use a food processor or blender.
Set 1 cup of the superfine sugar aside. You’ll add it to the egg whites.
Add cake flour and salt to food processor. Pulse them with the remaining sugar. This aerates the dry ingredients.
Beat egg whites and cream of tartar together. Beat on medium-low speed until foamy.
Slowly add 1 cup of superfine sugar. Turn the mixer up to medium-high and pour in the superfine sugar you set aside.
Beat into soft peaks. Whip the egg whites, cream of tartar, and superfine sugar into soft and lofty peaks. This takes at least 5 minutes. After that, add the vanilla.
Sift and fold in dry ingredients. In 3 additions, sift and fold in the dry ingredients.
Pour/spread batter into a tube pan. Do not grease the tube pan. Greasing the pan causes the batter to slip down the sides, preventing it from properly rising. If you already greased it, wash and wipe it completely clean.
Bake at 325°F (163°C). A higher temperature won’t properly cook the cake.
Cool upside down on a wire rack. If cooled upright, the cake’s own weight will crush itself. Cool it upside-down on a cooling rack so it holds its shape and air can reach it.
Run a thin knife around the edges to release. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to help loosen the cake, too.
Slice with a serrated knife. A regular sharp knife squishes the cake.
Can I use a Bundt pan for angel food cake? No, do not use a Bundt pan for angel food cake. You’ll have a very hard time getting it out in one piece. You need a tube pan which has a flat bottom and straight sides. If you don’t have one, I recommend this tube pan. It’s relatively inexpensive for its great quality. Though it’s labeled as nonstick, the coating is VERY thin and has never been an issue for my angel food cakes.
You need 1 cup (16 Tablespoons) + 2 Tablespoons of cake flour. Sounds like an odd amount, but 18 Tablespoons is the precise quantity to bring enough structure to the cake.
Remember, whip the egg whites into soft peaks. (Pictured above.) Soft peaks don’t hold a stiff shape. Instead, they “wilt” back into the mixture after a few seconds. Soft peaks are the optimum consistency because they’ll continue to expand in the oven. Stiff peaks, on the other hand, means that the egg whites have been over-whipped for angel food cake and will likely collapse in the oven.
Important to remember: Don’t let a drop of egg yolks into the mixing bowl. Any lingering fat could prevent the egg whites from forming peaks at all. Crack eggs over an egg separator into a small bowl, then add the whites one-by-one into the mixing bowl. This way if the yolk breaks, it doesn’t break directly in the mixing bowl.
Sift the dry ingredients over the beaten egg whites in a few additions, gently folding together after each addition. The goal is to retain as much of the whipped volume as possible. Pouring the dry ingredients on top all at once will quickly deflate the egg whites.
The Magic is in the Details
I’ve thrown a lot of information at you in this post, so here’s a quick summary of all the important success tips. Remember that the magic is all in the details.
Use freshly separated egg whites.
Pulse granulated sugar into superfine sugar.
Whip egg whites into soft peaks, not stiff peaks.
Sift and gently fold in dry ingredients.
Do not grease the tube pan.
Cool the cake upside-down on a wire rack.
Use a serrated knife to slice.
What is a prayer to say for the Feast Day of St. Elizabeth?
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has visited his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up for us a mighty saviour In the house of David his servant, As he promised by the lips of holy men, Those who were his prophets from of old.
A saviour who would free us from our foes, From the hands of all who hate us. So his love for our fathers is fulfilled And his holy covenant remembered.
He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes, we might serve him in holiness and justice all the days of our life in his presence.
As for you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of God, the Most High. You shall go ahead of the Lord To prepare his ways before him.
To make known to his people their salvation Through forgiveness of all their sins,
The loving-kindness of the heart of our God Who visits us like the dawn from on high.
He will give light to those in darkness, Those who dwell in the shadow of death, And guide us into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
When is the Feast Day of St. Elizabeth and St. Zechariah celebrated?
This feast day is celebrated on 5 November in the Roman Calendar and on 5 September among Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, and Anglicans.
I hope everyone who celebrates has a wonderful day!
