John the Baptist

See also the Panegyric of Pope Theodosius on St John the Baptist. Includes some early traditions:

• Genealogy and Relation between St Elizabeth, Zacharias, St Mary
  • Zacharias is king of Berechiah
• Why was St John the Baptist not killed by Herod?
  • They tried to. They sent soldiers to Zacharias who answered that Elizabeth had taken him to the desert and he hasn't seen him. So when the soldiers told Herod he sent them to kill him. He accepted that they kill him at the altar
• The angels ministered to Elizabeth and John and appeared to them in the same way as St Joseph to guide their steps
• The Angel Gabriel commissions St John to his ministry