The Prophet Sophonias (or Zephaniah)
Commemorated on December 3
The Prophet
Sophonias (or Zephaniah) was a contemporary of the Prophet Jeremiah and the
Prophetess Oldama. He was of illustrious lineage [from the tribe of Simeon, and
was the 9th of the Twelve Minor Prophets of the Old Testament]. The prophet
lived at the royal court, where he preached repentance and helped king Josiah
extirpate idol-worship.
He prophesied about
the calamities that were to come for the people of Judea and the surrounding
regions: Gaza, Ascalon, Crete, and against the Moabites, the Ammonites and the
Ninevites.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.