Zacharias 15 was a protospatharios or spatharios (protospatharius: Lib. Pont. 86. 7, Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 11, John the Deacon, Cron. Ven., pp. 87-88. Spatharius: Lib. Pont. 86. 8-9). Probably in 694 or 695 he was sent by the emperor Justinian II (Ioustinianos 1) to Rome to bring pope Sergius I (Sergios 30) back to Constantinople after Sergios 30 refused to accept the canons of the Quinisext Council: Lib. Pont. 86. 7 ("deinde Zachariam, inmanem suum protospatharium, cum iussione direxit ut praedictum pontificem similiter in regiam deportaret urbem"), Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 11 ("misso Zacharia protospathario suo"), cf. John the Deacon, Cron. Ven., pp. 87-88. The date was after Sergios 30's advisers Ioannes 21 and Bonifatios 2 were removed to Constantinople (see Sergios 45) and shortly before the overthrow of Justinian II (Ioustinianos 1) in 695 (see below). The troops of Ravenna and the Pentapolis and the surrounding regions rose up to defend the bishop of Rome; Zacharias 15, fearing for his life, closed the city gates and detained pope Sergius I (Sergios 30), while begging his protection; the troops entered the city, however, and threatened the papal palace in their search for the pope; Zacharias 15 allegedly took refuge under the pope's bed, while Sergios 30 reassured him and interceded with the army and the populace on his behalf; they did him no harm but expelled him ignominiously from Rome ("iam a patriarchii custodia non recesserunt, quousque denominatum spatharium cum iniuriis et contumeliis a civitate Romana foris depellerunt"): Lib. Pont. 86. 7-9, Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 11 ("eundem Zachariam cum contumeliis ab urbe Roma et iniuriis pepulit").

Described as "inmanis" (cruel): Lib. Pont. 86. 7 (cited above).

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