1And the priests gathered at the hour of greeting; but Zechariah did not come out to meet them, as was his custom, to bless them. And they waited for him to greet him in prayer.
2Given his delay, they began to fear; and, taking courage, one of them entered and saw beside the altar coagulated blood and heard a voice that said: 'Zechariah has been killed and his blood shall not be cleansed until the avenger comes.'
3They, taking courage, entered and witnessed what had happened. Then the cornices of the temple creaked and they tore their garments from top to bottom. But they did not find his body, only a pool of coagulated blood.
4And, that time concluded, the priests gathered to deliberate about whom they would put in his place. The lot fell upon Simeon, for he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he was allowed to behold the Messiah Incarnate.