Zacharias
- = Ζαχαρίας, Zacharias, the father of St. John the Baptist, Vulg. Luc. 1, 5; 1, 12; 1, 13; 3, 2; Lact. 4, 14, 6.
(Ζαχαρίας).
1. An ecclesiastical writer, commonly known by the name of Zacharias Rhetor. He was bishop of Melitene, and was the author of an ecclesiastical history embracing the period from A. D. 450 to A. D. 491. In the judgment of the orthodox Evagrius this work was written with a bias in favour of the Nestorians. (Evagrius, 2.2, 3.5, 6, 7, 18; comp. Nicephorus, 16.5, 6, 9, &c.) A Syriac translation, which bears no author's name, is claimed as the translation of the work of Zacharias by Assemann (Bibl. Orient. vol. ii. p. 53, &c.; comp. Le Quien, Oriens Christ i. p. 442).
2. The preceding should no doubt be distinguished from Zacharias surnamed Scholasticus.
The latter studied philosophy at Alexandria, and jutrisprudence at Berytus. After some time he was made bishop of Mytilene in Lesbos, and while in this office was present at the council held at Constantinople in A. D. 536, in the Acta of which he is several times mentioned. Works The Ammonius, an anti-platonic dialogue
There is still extant a work by Zacharias. entitled Ἀμμώνιος. It professed to be a dialogue held with a disciple of Ammonius, and to contain the substance of a discussion held at Alexandria with Ammonius himself and one Gessius, a physician. The design of the work is to refute the favourite Platonic doctrine of the eternity of the universe. (Ὅτι οὐ συναΐδιος τῷ θεῷ ὁ κόσμος, ἀλλὰ δημιούργημα αὐτοῦ τυγχάνει), and the occasion which led to its composition was the endeavour of a disciple of Ammonius who had come to Berytus to spread that doctrine, so inimical to the Christian faith. The style of Zacharias is formed very much in imitation of that of Plato. Editions
This dialogue was published in Greek and Latin by J. Tarin, in connection with the Philocalia of Origenes (Paris, 1619). It is also to be found in K. Barth's edition of Aeneas of Gaza (Leipzig, 1655). Ἀντίρ̀ῥησις Ζαχαρίου, ἐπισκόπου Μιτυλήνης, τὸν παραλογισμὸν τοῦ Μανιχαίου διελέγχουσα
There is also extant a short piece by Zacharias, entitled Ἀντίρ̀ῥησις Ζαχαρίου, ἐπισκόπου Μιτυλήνης, τὸν παραλογισμὸν τοῦ Μανιχαίου διελέγχουσα. Editions
The Greek text has not been printed, but there is a Latin translation of it by F. Turrianus in H. Canisii Thesaur. Mon. Eccles. et Hist. Antv. 1725, vol. v. p. 428. Commentaries on Aristole>
Zacharias is also mentioned as having written commentaries on Aristotle. Further Information
Cod. Bibl. Coislin. ; comp. Montfauc. p. 598.
3. Patriarch of Jerusalem; a Latin translation of whose Epistola ad Eccles. Hierosol. de Abductione sua in Persidem (A. D. 614) is contained in the Bibliotheca Patrum (vol. xii. ed. Lugd. p. 984).
4. Patriarch of Alexandria, respecting whose synodic letter to Joannes Abdos the reader is referred to Assemann (Bibl. Orient. ii. p. 145, &c.).
5. There are several more ecclesiastics and others of this name, respecting whom the reader may consult Assemann (l.c.) and Fabricius (Bibl. Gr. vol. x. pp. 635-638). [C.P.M]