Joshua son of Jozadak

Holy Righteous Joshua son of Jozadak was the thirtieth high priest of the Jews. He is known as the spiritual representative of the Jewish community which moved, at the command of the Persian king Cyrus, from Babylon to Jerusalem in 537 before the Nativity of Christ, together with Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, the civil representative of the community. Both were the chief leaders of the whole work of the return of the captives to their homeland, of the rebuilding of the temple, of the renewal of divine service and of the organisation of the community's government.

The prophet Zechariah saw Joshua in a vision standing before the Lord in soiled garments, and at his right hand Satan to oppose him, but the Angel of the Lord rebuked Satan and clothed Joshua in festal garments (Zechariah 3:1-6). After some time Zechariah received a command from God to make a crown of gold for him (Zechariah 6:10-14). Joshua son of Jozadak was undoubtedly one of the great high priests, and his name became famous among his descendants. In the prophecy of Zechariah he is presented as a prefiguration of Christ the Saviour (Zechariah 6).

He is commemorated on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers (in the Russian calendar on 27 December, a movable day).