Synaxarium

On this day, the righteous and virtuous Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, departed. This saint was born in Jerusalem to a righteous father named Matthat from the tribe of Levi, from the house of Aaron, and her mother's name was Sophia. Matthat had three daughters: the eldest was Mary, the mother of Salome, who cared for the Virgin Mary during the virgin birth; the second was Sophia, mother of Saint Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist; and the youngest was Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, mother of the Savior. Thus, Salome, Elizabeth, and the Virgin Mary were cousins. When Saint Zechariah the priest married Saint Elizabeth, both walked in righteousness and holiness before God, as the Evangelist says about them: "And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord." This righteous woman was barren, but she and her husband continued to seek God, and He granted them Saint John the Baptist. God delayed answering them quickly to complete the time in which the Virgin Mary would conceive the Word of God. When they grew old, God sent His angel Gabriel to Zechariah, announcing Elizabeth's conception of John and informing him of the matters concerning this saint. When the Virgin Mary visited Saint Elizabeth to bless her with the fruit of her womb, John the saint rejoiced as a fetus in his mother's womb, and Elizabeth was filled with grace. When John was born, the disgrace was removed from her and her relatives. After completing her days in righteousness, purity, and chastity, she departed in peace. May her prayer be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever and ever, Amen.