Zacharias of Jerusalem

Zacharias of Jerusalem was the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Church of Jerusalem from 609 to 632. Zacharias spent most of his patriarchate as a prisoner of the Sasanian Emperor Khosrow II following the Sasanian conquest of Jerusalem.[1] He is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on February 21.[2][3]

The early life of Zacharias is unknown. He was elected patriarch in 609. During the reign of the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, the Sasanians invaded Byzantine Syria, taking Jerusalem in 614. According to Sebeos, they seized True Cross in addition to taking tens of thousands of Christian prisoners, including Zacharias.

In 627, after rebuilding his army, Heraclius counter-attacked into Persia. Winning a decisive victory at Nineveh, Heraclius compelled the Persians to return the True Cross and the surviving captives, including Patriarch Zacharias.

Patriarch Zacharias spent his remaining days in peace until his death in 632. Patriarch Modestus, who had acted as locum tenens during Patriarch Zacharias's captivity succeeded him on the patriarchal throne.

References

Professor F.C. Conybeare. Antiochus Strategos, The Capture of Jerusalem by the Persians in 614 AD. English Historical Review 25 (1910) pp. 502-517.
Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ζαχαρίας Πατριάρχης Ἱεροσολύμων. 21 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.
St. Zacharias, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

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[1] Professor F.C. Conybeare. Antiochus Strategos, The Capture of Jerusalem by the Persians in 614 AD. English Historical Review 25 (1910) pp. 502-517.

[2] Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ζαχαρίας Πατριάρχης Ἱεροσολύμων. 21 Φεβρουαρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.

[3] St. Zacharias, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Bishops and Patriarchs of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
Bishops of Jerusalem (until 451)	James, brother of Jesus Simeon of Jerusalem Justus Zacchaeus Tobias Benjamin John I Matthias Philip Senecas Justus II Levis Ephram Joseph I Judas Marcus Cassianus Poplius Maximus I Julian I Gaius I Symmachus Gaius II Julian II Capion Maximus II Antoninus Valens Dolichianus Narcissus Dius Germanion Gordius Alexander Mazabanis Imeneus Zamudas Ermon Macarius Maximus III Cyril I John II Praulius Juvenal
Patriarchs of Jerusalem (from 451)	Juvenal Anastasius I Martyrius Sallustius Elias I John III Peter Macarius II Eustochius John IV Amos Isaac Zacharias Modestus Sophronius Anastasius II John V Theodore Elias II George Thomas I Basileus John VI Sergius I Solomon Theodosius Elias III Sergius II Leontius I Athanasius I Christodulus Agathon John VII Christodulus II Thomas II Joseph II Orestes Theophilus I Nicephorus I Joannichius Sophronius II Euthemius Simeon II Savvas^§ John VIII^§ Nicolas^§ John IX^§ Nicephorus II^§ Leontius II^§ Dositheos I Marcus II Euthemius II Athanasius II Sophronius III Gregory I Thaddaeus Athanasius III Gregory II Lazarus Dorotheus I Theophilus II Theophanes I Joachim Theophanes II Athanasius IV Jacob II Abraham I Gregory III Marcus III Dorotheus II Germanus Sophronius IV Theophanes III Paiseus Nectarius I Dositheos II Chrysanthus Meletius Parthenius Ephram II Sophronius V Abraham II Procopius I Anthemus Polycarpus Athanasius V Cyril II Procopius II Hierotheus Nicodemus I Gerasimus I Damian I Timotheus I Benedict I Diodoros I Irenaios I Theophilus III
^§: in exile at Constantinople due to the Latin rule over Jerusalem