Righteous Zacchaeus the Publican

Righteous Zacchaeus, according to the Gospel of Luke (19:1-10), was the chief tax collector of Jericho, a wealthy man of small stature. Hearing that Jesus was passing through the city, and unable to see Him over the crowd due to his short height, he climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of the Savior. Christ, noticing him, called him by name and announced His intention to stay at his house — an act that provoked murmuring among the onlookers, who considered tax collectors notorious sinners. Moved by this mercy, Zacchaeus publicly vowed to give half his possessions to the poor and to repay fourfold anyone he had wronged through unjust exaction, for which he heard Christ say, "Today salvation has come to this house." According to church tradition, he later became bishop of Caesarea Palaestina. The Gospel account of Zacchaeus is read in Orthodox worship on the pre-Lenten Sunday of Zacchaeus, which opens the preparatory period for Great Lent.