Sunday of the Forefathers
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All the great Fathers and Mothers and Prophets of the Old Testament, starting with Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, are called to mind this weekend including such figures as the Holy Prophets Elias and Daniel. The Office of today concludes with the parents of the Forerunner of Christ, SS. Zechariah (Zachary) and his wife Elizabeth and the parents of the Virgin SS. Joachim and Ann. These are the faithful generations who lived before the Law and under the Law, especially the Patriarch Abraham, to whom God said, "In thy seed shall all of the nations of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3, 22:18).
The Church brings them to our attention now, right before Christmas, largely because of their faith – their belief in the promise given by God to Adam during his expulsion from the garden of Eden, that in the end a Savior will come into the world and will redeem mankind from original sin. All the forefathers of the Jewish people – who lived on earth long before the birth of Christ – lived and burned with this faith, never allowing it to be extinguished. They are a shining example to us, who are living on earth after the Incarnation of our Lord. Just like those ancient people we, too, have never actually seen Christ: they only knew that He would come into the world, while we know that He did come into the world. But they firmly believed in His coming and their faith was justified.