One of the most famous biblical characters, a fighter for the holiness and purity of faith - the most revered saint, not only in Orthodoxy, but also in Judaism, Catholicism, Islam. Ilya the prophet is mentioned many times in both the Old and New Testaments. Such respect is well deserved - the righteous lived an unusual life, showed the exploits of faith, was a living example of holiness, and performed many miracles.

The Life of Elijah the Prophet

The origin of such a great man remains a mystery to historians - perhaps the Lord did not accidentally hide this part of his life. Ilya became famous during the reign of King Ahab, whose name became a household name. He was an apostate from the faith of ancestors, built idols and served them, expelled many righteous from Israel. But the Lord stood guard over his great prophet Elijah. He remained firm, convicted sinners, proclaimed God's will to them.

In punishment for perseverance in sin, a great drought was sent to the country, which lasted several years. And only a great servant of God could rectify the situation.

• He invited the priests of Baal, offered to lay down 2 altars.
• On one the pagans laid a sacrifice, on the other - St. Ilya the prophet.
• It was impossible to set fire — light was offered from heaven by prayer.

The calculation was simple - whose god first burns the victim, that is the true Lord. No matter how hard the pagans tried, their altar stood untouched. And through the prayer of Elijah, not only the sacrifice was burnt, but also the stone throne itself, the pit with water that surrounded him was burned. The apostate people immediately repented of their sins, and the prophet brought the long-awaited rain to the earth.

Other famous miracles of Elijah

Many scholars of theology speak of Elijah the prophet as a type of the Savior Jesus Christ. In their biographies, you can really find similarities.

• At one time, Elijah had to live with a poor widow, who had a pagan origin - like Christ, his own people did not accept him.
• When the woman's only son died, the prophet resurrected him. Jesus, too, repeatedly raised the dead during His earthly ministry.
• While Elijah lived in the widow's house, she always had butter in a jug, and the flour did not end. The Lord fed his children, just as he multiplied the fish and bread in the wilderness after the preaching of Christ.

For his great deeds, the saint received a worthy reward. When the time came, a chariot of fire descended from heaven, on which it was delivered directly to the heavenly cloisters. It is believed that before the end of the earth, Ilya will be re-sent to people to denounce the Antichrist. He will also be able to convert the remaining Jews to Christianity.

Icons of Elijah the Prophet

Such a revered righteous person is often depicted on icons. Ilya the Prophet looks like an old man with a long gray beard. His clothes are simple, his feet are bare, or he can be put on sandals. In the hands of the prophet often holds a long scroll.

He is present at the icon of the Transfiguration - a famous biblical story when the three apostles witnessed the manifestation of the divine glory of Christ. Next to him were Moses and Elijah.

Personal icons are depicted in different ways:

• can stand in the center of a living image, around the most famous scenes from the Scriptures;
• scene of taking to heaven - Ilya on a chariot of fire;
• stay in the desert - sitting on a stone, a bird (raven) flies from the sky, holding a piece of bread in its beak.

For home prayer, any image purchased in a church shop is suitable.

Veneration

On the icons of St. Elijah the prophet, you can find the attributes of the Old Testament righteous, each has its own meaning.

• A raincoat - it is still worn in the deserts, because it gives good shelter from the heat during the day, and at night keeps warm. In those days, many saints were in prayer for a long time, for which they often left the bustling cities, retiring to the desert. A cloak also means a wanderer, because in life the prophet goes like a herald of God, renouncing his own life.
• A cap (either a hood or a bandage) - has practical significance, protecting the head from sunlight. In theological understanding, this designation of divine grace, which is sent to the saint, is a symbol of his election and glory.
• Long hair - this attribute came to iconography for a reason. In ancient times there was a Nazarene sect. They dedicated themselves to God: did not marry, did not drink wine, prayed a lot and fasted. One of the vows included a promise not to cut hair. This is why facial hair has become associated with serving the Lord over time.
• Scroll - the prophets did not come for a reason, they spoke from God. Their teachings were very important to many people. Usually, one of the famous quotes of this righteous person is taken as a text.

Temples of Elijah the Prophet in Russia

In Russia, the temples of Elijah the prophet began to be built with rhinestones after the adoption of Christianity. The first was erected in Kiev, then St. Olga erected a church in his honor in his homeland, in the Pskov region.

The famous temple is located in Moscow, the erection date is the beginning of the 18th century. A small building with a high bell tower is located in Obydensky Lane. Initially, the temple was wooden, but then a stone was built, preserving the original style. The church has quite ancient icons of the Savior and the Kazan Mother of God, the miraculous image of "Unexpected joy." Here A. Solzhenitsyn was married. The history of the parish is remarkable in that the temple did not close even during the years of Soviet rule.

Who is protected

According to popular beliefs, the gray-haired old man knows how to control lightning, fire, and helps farmers. Often in the popular mind the prophet gets confused with the holy warrior - Ilya Muromets. On August 2, Russia marks the Day of the Airborne Forces, since it coincides with the church day of Elijah the Prophet, this great saint is considered the patron saint of paratroopers.

This coincidence, perhaps, is not accidental, because the righteous man committed very courageous acts in life. However, first of all, he defends all those who faithfully serve God, can lead on the path of truth, admonish those who are mistaken. Those who want to maintain chastity and purity can turn to him - after all, the righteous man was not married.

Prayer of Elijah the Prophet

Majesty of the Prophet Elijah

We magnify thee, / the glorious holy prophet Elijah of God, / and honor (a hedgehog to Heaven / on a chariot of fire, / your glorious ascent.

Troparion to the Prophet Elijah

In the flesh an angel, / foundation of prophets, / the second Forerunner of the coming of Christ, Elijah the glorious, / from above sending Eliseev grace / ailments to drive away / and leper cleansing, / he also honors healing with the same worshiper.

Kondak to the Prophet Elijah, voice 2:

Prophesy and seer of the great deeds of our God, Elijah the great name, broadcasting thirsty clouds of water by your broadcast, pray for us the same Human Lover.

Prayer

O holy prophet of God Elijah, pray for us the Human Lover of God, may He give us, the servants of God(names) , the spirit of repentance and contrition for our sins, and through His omnipotent grace help us to leave the path of ungodliness, to prosper in every business, and in the struggle against our passions and lusts, let us strengthen us; may our hearts of humility and meekness, the spirit of brotherhood and kindness, the spirit of patience and chastity, the spirit of jealousy for the glory of God and good care for our salvation and for our neighbors, plant in our hearts.

Turn away from us by your intercession the righteous wrath of God, so that we have lived in this world in peace and piety, we will be able to take part in eternal blessings in the kingdom of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, Him and befitting honor and worship, with His Father and the Most Holy Spirit, forever and ever .

About Elijah the Prophet - temples and icons  was last modified: June 11th, 2017 by Bogolub

There are a lot of saints in whose lives the fates of the Old and New Testaments would be so closely intertwined as those of the prophet Elijah. Born nine centuries before the coming of Christ the Savior into the world, the prophet Elijah saw the glory of His Transfiguration on Mount Tabor (Matthew 17, 3; Mark 9, 4; Luke 9, 30). The Holy Prophet was the first in the Old Testament to perform the miracle of the resurrection of the dead (1 Kings 17, 20-23), and he himself was taken alive to Heaven, thus representing the coming Resurrection of Christ and the universal destruction of the dominion of death. His ardent call to repentance and formidable convictions were addressed to contemporaries, his compatriots, mired in wickedness and idolatry. The same denunciations and a call to repentance will be heard by the inhabitants of the Earth before the Second Coming of Christ, when many, having evaded true faith and piety, will live in the darkness of delusions and vices. Both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament Church, the holy prophet Elijah is revered for his indestructible firmness of faith, the impeccable rigor of his virgin life, and fiery jealousy for the glory of God. He is often compared to the “greatest of wives born” by the Forerunner and the Baptist of the Lord John, who is said to have come “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1, 17).

The Holy Prophet Elijah was born in the 10th century BC in Thesvia of Gilead, came from the tribe of Levi. According to legend, at the birth of his son, his father, Sovakh, saw how bright angels talked with a baby, swaddled him with fire and fed him with a flame of fire. From a young age, Saint Elijah retired to the deserted Mount Carmel, where he grew and strengthened spiritually, spending his life in strict fasting, prayer and divine thought.

After the death of King Solomon, the state was divided into two kingdoms - Judea with its capital in Jerusalem and Israel with its capital in Samaria. And if in Judea to some extent the previous piety was preserved, then the kingdom of Israel very quickly deviated from the faith of the fathers to serve pagan gods. The wickedness especially increased under King Ahab, whose wife Jezebel, being a Gentile, intensely planted the cult of the idol Baal.

The holy prophet Elijah, jealous of the glory of the True God, appeared in public service as a formidable and bold exposer of sharply intensified idolatry and moral licentiousness. He announced to the king that there would be no rain or dew for a long time as a punishment for the lawlessness of the Israelites, and this calamity would end only by the prayer of the prophet (1 Kings 17, 1). Ahab did not obey the prophetic voice and did not repent. Then the terrible sentence of St. Elijah was carried out - for three and a half years the people of Israel suffered from heat, drought and hunger. The prophet himself, at the command of God, took refuge from the wrath of his fellow tribesmen and the persecution of Ahab in a secluded place near the Horaf stream, where crows brought him food, bread and meat every morning and every evening. According to the explanation of St. John Chrysostom, the Lord commanded the care of the prophet to feed the ravens in order to teach him to be more merciful and condescending. “Look, Elijah,” the saint says, as if on behalf of God Himself, “on their (ravens) humanity; those who do not have love for their own chicks serve you as hospitable ... Imitate the change of ravens, and be indulgent to the Jews. "

About a year later, when the Horaf stream dried up, the Lord sent the prophet Elijah to the small Phoenician city of Sarepth of Sidon to a poor widow who, together with her family, was in dire need. The prophet Elijah, wanting to test the faith and virtue of the widow, ordered her to bake bread for him from the last remnants of flour and butter. The widow complied with her command, and her selflessness was not left without a reward: according to the prophet, the flour and oil in this house miraculously constantly replenished during all the time of famine and drought. Soon the Lord sent a new test of the widow's faith: her son died. In inconsolable grief, she decided that the holiness of the prophet Elijah, incompatible with her sinful life, caused the death of the lad. Instead of answering, the holy prophet took the hands of her dead son and after three intensified prayers he resurrected him (1 Kings 17, 17-24).

After three years of drought, the Lord sent Saint Elijah to Ahab to announce the end of the calamity. In this case, the prophet ordered the king to conduct a "test of faith." All the inhabitants of Israel and all the priests of Baal gathered on Mount Carmel. When they built two altars, St. Elijah invited the priests of Baal to pray to their gods for the descent of fire from heaven on the sacrifice. The priests prayed all day, but there was no fire. Then the holy prophet Elijah ordered the altar prepared by him to be poured with plenty of water, so that it filled the entire moat around the altar. Then he turned with earnest prayer to the True God, and immediately fire came down from heaven and burned the sacrifice and even the stone altar and the water around it. Seeing this, the people fell to the ground in fear and exclaimed: “Verily the Lord is God!” (1 Kings 18, 39). The prophet Elijah ordered the capture of the priests of Baal and killed them at the Kissova stream. By the prayer of the saint, the sky opened and it began to rain.

Despite the ardent jealousy of the prophet and the abundance of God's grace that strengthened him, he was not a stranger to the natural human weakness, especially manifested in the Old Testament, before the coming of the Savior. The prophet Elijah after a miracle on Mount Carmel expected Israel to turn to God, but it happened differently. Jezebel's fierce heart burned with anger and she threatened to kill the prophet for exterminating the priests of Baal. The weak-willed Ahab, who repented from a formidable sign, took the side of his wife, and the prophet Elijah was to flee to the south of Judea, to Bathsheba. All his efforts to eradicate ungodliness seemed helpless to him, and in great sorrow he went into the wilderness and called to God there: “Enough already, Lord, take my soul, for I am not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19, 4). The Lord comforted the saint with a vision of an angel who strengthened him with food and commanded him to go on a long journey. 40 days and 40 nights the prophet Elijah walked and, reaching the mountain of Horeb, he settled in a cave. Here the Lord with a special vision again called him to be more merciful. In sensual images — storm, earthquake, and fire — the meaning of his prophetic ministry was revealed to him. To contrast with these visions, the Lord appeared to him in a gentle wind, making it clear that the hearts of sinners are softened and turn to repentance by the action of God's mercy, and the formidable manifestations of the power of God are likely to lead into horror and despair. In the same vision, the Lord revealed to the prophet that he was not the only one who honored the True God: there are seven thousand more people in Israel who did not kneel before Baal. At the command of God, the prophet Elijah again went to Israel to consecrate Elisha to the prophetic ministry.

Twice more, the holy prophet Elijah came to the court of the kings of Israel. The first time is to convict Ahab of the unlawful murder of Naboth and the appropriation of his vineyard (1 Kings 21). Hearing the conviction of the prophet, Ahab repented and humbled himself, and for this God softened His anger. For the second time, in order to convict the new king Ahaziah, the son of Ahab and Jezebel for the fact that in his illness he turned not to the True God, but to the Akkaron idol. The holy prophet predicted the death of Ahaziah's illness for such unbelief, and soon the word of the prophet came true (2 Kings, 1).

For his fiery spiritual zeal for the glory of God, the prophet Elijah was taken alive to heaven in a fiery chariot. His disciple Elisha witnessed this ascent and, together with the grace of St. Elijah falling from the chariot, received a prophetic gift twice as large as the prophet Elijah.

According to the tradition of the Church, the prophet Elijah, along with the forefather Enoch, who was also taken alive to Heaven (Genesis 5, 24), will be the Forerunner of the Second Coming of Christ to Earth. For three and a half years, Saints Enoch and Elijah will preach repentance and perform many miracles. With their sermon, they will turn people to true faith. They will be given power, as during the earthly life of the prophet Elijah, “shut up heaven so that it does not rain in the days of their prophecy” (Rev. 11.6). After three and a half years of their preaching, the Antichrist will fight with them and kill them, but by the power of God they will be resurrected in three and a half days.

The icon-painting tradition often depicts the holy prophet Elijah ascending on a fiery chariot to Heaven.

To the memory of the holy prophet Elijah, the Russian Orthodox people have always treated with reverence. It was revered by the Slavs in the pre-Christian era of our national history. The first temple in Kiev under Prince Igor (before the Baptism of Russia) was dedicated to the holy prophet Elijah, in the annals of the Monk Nestor this temple was called the cathedral, i.e. the main one. In Constantinople, where in the service of the Greek emperors until the X century there were many Varangians-Russians, a church was also built in the name of the prophet Elijah, which was intended for baptized Russian people, as is known from the agreement between Kiev and Greeks in 944.

After the Baptism of Rus in 988, the Ilyinsky churches began to be erected in great numbers throughout the country. Since ancient times, the believing Russian people in the holy prophet Elijah have honored the patron saint of the harvest, therefore, with special zeal and love he turns to the saint of God on the day of his memory with a prayer for the blessing of the new harvest. The depth of veneration of the feast of the Prophet Elijah is evidenced by the manuscript church months (calendars) in which this holiday is called the "holy ascent of the prophet Elijah" or "the fiery ascent of the holy prophet Elijah." Usually on the day of the holiday, processions and blessings of water are performed in the places where the Ilyinsky churches are located.

The following is known about the history of the establishment of one of these religious processions from Russian history. In 1664, Moscow and its environs suffered a terrible drought, which lasted from May 15 to July 20 (according to the old style). The reliability of this event is confirmed by historical evidence.

The calamity prompted the Muscovites to a nationwide hot prayer, and the inhabitants of Moscow put especially honor to the saint, on the day of remembrance of which the drought will stop and the rain will come. Heavy rain fell on July 20, the earth came to life, and many people thanked God for mercy. Seeing in this event the Providence of God and the daring prayers of the holy prophet Elijah, it was supposed to make a procession from the Assumption Cathedral to the church of the prophet Elijah on the Voronkov Field. When establishing this procession, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich said: “Just as the prophet Elijah sent rain to the fields of the kingdom of Israel, just as now the prophet irrigated the dried up fields of the Russian state.”

One of the most venerated Old Testament saints in Christianity is the prophet Elijah, whose life is widely known throughout the world. His memory is committed on August 2 (July 20 according to the old style).

The Prophet Elijah was born in 900 BC.. in the city of Fiswa (now the territory of Jordan). He came from the tribe of Levi. When the prophet was born, his father, the priest Owl, had a vision: some men joyfully greeted the newborn, fed him with fire and swaddled in flames. This symbolized his future fiery sermons and ascension in a fiery chariot into the sky.

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The Life of the Prophet Elijah

Childhood and youth

Ilya grew up in an atmosphere of piety and purity, often went to the desert and extolled prayers to God. The Lord loved the young man and answered his prayers. The future prophet saw idolatry and debauchery around. The true God was forgotten by the Israelites. Those few who did not bow to the pagan gods and openly opposed this were killed and driven away.

Revealing the king and famine in Israel

  Elijah began his active work during the reign of Israel in Ahab. He was married to the Phoenician Jezebel, who adhered to the cult of the pagan gods Baal (Baal) and Astarte (Asher). She exerted a great influence on her husband, and under the pressure of his wife, the king, who himself worshiped the golden calves instead of the Almighty, built a temple for Baal. The veneration of God in the kingdom of Israel was practically ceased, and zealots of piety were expelled from the country. The priests of the pagan temple were kept at the ruler’s palace. For all this, Elijah exposed Ahab.

To reason with the king, Elijah performed many miracles, but Ahab was indifferent to them. Moreover, idol worship spread more and more and soon reached absolute limits. The prophet predicted to the king that the reckoning for Israel for this would be a terrible famine that would last several years. But even here Ahab did not heed the prophecies of Elijah.

In the kingdom of Israel, the prophet's prediction was fulfilled in the near future. To the country a terrible drought collapsed leading to hunger. According to legend, the Lord, out of His mercy, would like to send rain to emaciated Jews, but he did not do this, so as not to violate the words of Elijah, who wanted the Israelites to repent and turn to the true God. The prophet himself was in the desert at that time. Every morning and evening during the year, crows came to him and brought him food.

Then the prophet went to Sarepta of Sidon (today's territory of Lebanon) to the poor widow, whose son Jonah had just died. She gave for Elijah the last flour and butter that was in her house. For this, the prayers of the prophet never ended these products. Moreover, he resurrected a newly deceased child. Subsequently, Jonah also became a prophet. Ilya spent two more years with this woman.

Competition with idolaters and releasing rain

  After all this time, Ilya still came to Samaria and appeared in front of Ahab. It was decided that sacrifice will take place on Mount Carmel, which will determine who is more powerful - God Yahweh or Baal.

First, the priests laid on the altar of the idol a cut body and began to ask Baal to send fire to them and burn their sacrifice. The pagan god was weaker, and the priests could not get him to show his strength. Then it was Elijah's turn.

He also laid the bullock on the altar and dug a moat around it, and then asked the people to pour water on the moat and the altar together with the calf. The people did just that. After this, the prophet prayed to the Lord, and he sent down fire from heaven to the sacrifice of Elijah. Seeing this, the people submitted to the greatness of God.

Ilya ordered people to lead the priests to the mouth of the Kisson River, and there the prophet dealt with them with his own hands. Then he again offered prayer to God, and heavy rain fell on the groundby which all the people yearned.

Jezebel was angry with the prophet for the slain priests and swore that she would destroy him. Elijah received instructions from God to take refuge at the Horaf stream, where the Lord Himself was his interlocutor.

Last years on earth

And at this time king Ahab wished to receive a vineyard in his possessionlocated next to his palace. However, Naboth the owner of the vineyard refused to sell it to the king. Jezebel decided to arrange her unrighteous trial of Naboth and persuaded the elders of the city to confirm that the winegrower allegedly blasphemed. The trial took place, and the slandered master was taken out of the city and stoned to death.

Upon learning of this, Ahab was upset, but still went to the garden, which became his property for free. However, on the road, he met Elijah, whom the Lord directed there. He told the king that he, and Jezebel, and his entire family would soon perish. Ahab then found the strength in himself to repent, and God forgave him and sentenced him off, saying that troubles would fall on the royal family only after the death of the ruler himself.

Three years later, Ahab died in battle., and the throne was occupied by his son, Ahaziah, who was also an admirer of Baal. Once the king was injured, falling from the roof of the palace, and sent assistants to the idol of the pagan god, so that they would know when Ohozia was recovering. However, Elijah met them and said that for the worship of demons, the young king would die in his illness, and this soon happened. The ruler was Joram, brother of Ahaziah. Under him, the punishment of God was fulfilled, and the entire royal family was destroyed. Jezebel also died - she was thrown out of the window, and the corpses were torn by dogs.

  After choosing a successor in the person of the prophet Elisha, according to the Lord’s will, Elijah was ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire. In Orthodox theology, there is a point of view according to which the prophet is not taken to heaven, but to some hidden place, where he will be until the Second Coming.

The book of the prophet Malachi says that the Lord will again send Elijah to earth before the Second Coming and the Last Judgment. However, there is an opinion that it was about John the Baptist, who appeared in the spirit of Elijah before the First Coming of Jesus. However, most Christians believe that Elijah will come back to earth to convict the Antichrist and persuade the Jews to believe in God.

Miracles Created by the Prophet

In the Third and Fourth Books of Kings, which describe the life of the prophet Elijah, tells about the following miracles created by him:

• lack of rain and hunger at his prayers;
• feeding the prophet crows according to the word of God;
• the resurrection of the son of a Sarept widow;
• by his prayers in the widow's house the meal never ended;
• bringing down fire to the altar;
• rain after three years of drought;
• communicated with the Lord face to face while covering his face with his hands;
• striking the Jordan River with clothing, he divided it in two, like Moses;
• climbing alive to heaven.

Honoring in Russia

In Russia  the prophet Elijah was worshiped almost from the very baptism. The first temples in his name appeared during the time of Prince Askold. This is due to the fact that missionaries on the territory of Russia had to, like the prophet, destroy the sin of idolatry in people. Other temples in his honor were located in cities such as:

• Kiev;
• Velikiy Novgorod;
• Pskov

  Also, droughts often occurred in our country, but through the prayers of Elijah the Prophet, rain fell on the earth.

Today it is most famous in our capital - Moscow  at the address 6, built at 1592, Obydeny pereulok. During the Time of Troubles, the clergy within the walls of this church asked for God's help against the Polish invaders.

On March 1, 1930, the Soviet authorities closed the temple, but after two and a half months, on May 20, it was again returned to believers. The second attempt to close the church was scheduled for June 22, 1941, but this was prevented by the start of World War II.

Another temple in honor of Elijah the Prophet since 2012, under construction in North Butovo  on the street Kulikovskaya. Services are still being held in a temporary building, but other large churches will envy the richness of parish life: a church service advisory organization, a Sunday school, an Orthodox club, and a sports section are open there.

The image of a prophet in our time

Today Ilya the Prophet is no less revered by the Orthodox. Talented icon painters create wonderful works dedicated to various pages of the life of the prophet. Elijah is considered the patron saint of the airborne troops, as well as the air force. On August 2 of each year, services are held in honor of the prophet in the temples of the Airborne Forces.

The holy prophet Elijah (9th century BC) was a descendant of the high priest Aaron. From a young age, betraying himself to God, he lived like an angel, immaculate soul and body. Loving to think about God, he often retired for silence to deserted places where he prayed for a long time to the Lord.

And Elijah was loved by God, because God loves those who love Him. More than once the Lord graciously talked with Elijah and granted him such boldness that Elijah always received what was asked of God.

At that time, the lawless Ahab reigned in Israel. And Elijah the prophet said to Ahab: “The Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand!” In these years there will be no dew, no rain, unless in my word. ” Having said this, Elijah left Ahab, and according to the words of the prophet drought came. God himself kept Elijah at the Horaf stream, which is against the Jordan. And the crows brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the morning, and he drank from the stream.

After some time, this stream dried out, because there was no rain. And the Lord said to Elijah: “Get up and go to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there; I told the widow woman to feed you there. ” And Elijah arose and went to Zarephath, and began to live with the widow. After some time, the woman’s son fell ill and died, and she said to Elijah: “What am I and you, man of God? You came to me to remind my sins and put to death my son. ”

And Elijah called to the Lord, and said: “Lord, my God! Can you do evil to the widow whom I abide by killing her son? And, bending over the lad, he called three times to the Lord and said: “Lord, my God! May the soul of this lad return to him! ”And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the lad came to life, and that woman of Elijah said:“ Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord is true in your mouth. ” Having the gift of miracles from God by faith, Elijah did so that the flour and butter in the widow's house were not exhausted until the famine ceased; and she ate herself with her son and fed the prophet Elijah.

After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: "Go and show yourself to Ahab, and I will give rain to the earth." Elijah immediately went to the king and, with great sermons and great miracles, turned the lost people and Ahab himself to repentance. Then, according to the word of the prophet Elijah, the sky became gloomy from the clouds, and it began to rain heavily, and the hunger was over.

After this, the Lord commanded Elijah to anoint Elisha as a prophet in his place. And Elisha, having said goodbye to his father and mother, went after Elijah and began to serve him.

While the Lord wanted to lift Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha walked and Elijah said to him: "Stay here, for the Lord sends me to the Jordan." And Elisha said: “The Lord lives, and your soul lives! I will not leave you. " And they both went and stood by the Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle (outer clothing), and turned it around, and struck it with water, and she parted here and there, and both went dry. When they crossed, Elijah said to Elisha: "Ask what to do before you are taken from you." And Elisha said: “The spirit that is in you, may it be double on me.” And he said: “You ask difficult. If you see how I will be taken from you, then it will be so for you, but if you do not see it, it will not. ”

As they walked and talked dearly, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared, and they parted them both, and Elijah swept in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha looked and exclaimed: “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and his cavalry!” And he did not see him again.

And he seized his clothes, and tore them into two parts. And he lifted up the grace of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood on the bank of the Jordan. And he took Elijah’s mercy, which fell from him, and struck her with water, and said: “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah, is He Himself?” And he struck the water, and she parted here and there, and Elisha crossed.

August 2 Orthodox Church commemorates holy prophet Elijah. He is revered not only in Christianity and Judaism, but also in the late Protestant churches and Islam, and traces of his image are also present in paganism.

The Life of the Prophet Elijah

The Prophet Elijah (translated from Hebrew as “My God”) was born in Thesvia of Gilead in the tribe of the Levi, 900 years before the birth of Christ. According to legend, when Elijah was born, his father had a mysterious vision: “ noble men welcomed the baby, swaddled him with fire and fed him with fire».

From an early age, Elijah devoted himself to God, lived in the desert, spent time in fasting and prayer. His prophetic ministry fell on the board king Ahab  whose wife Jezebel  persuaded to accept paganism.

Therefore, worship of the pagan god Baal was cultivated in the country. According to legend, the prophet Elijah struck the earth with a three-year drought to admonish the king and the corrupted Israeli people. After a while, through the prayer of the prophet Elijah, the Lord sent heavy rain to the earth, the drought ended.

The prophet Elijah is also mentioned in the New Testament: during the Transfiguration of the Lord, he, along with the prophet Moses, arrived on Mount Tabor to talk with Jesus Christ.

The Prophet Elijah performed many miracles. Once he went to Sarepta of Sidon to the poor widow, who did not spare the last handful of flour and butter, so the flour and butter have not been depleted since then in the widow's house. Then the prophet Elijah performed another miracle: he revived the recently deceased son of a widow.

In both Judaism and Christianity, it is believed that Elijah was taken alive to heaven: “suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared, and they were parted, and Elijah carried away in a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). According to the Bible, before him alive in heaven was taken only Enoch  who lived before the Flood (Genesis 5:24). However, in Orthodox theology there is an opinion that Enoch and Elijah were not ascended to heaven, but to some secret place in which they await the day of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Deuterocanonical Book, Book of the Wisdom of Jesus, Son Sirakhova, describes this event as follows: “Elijah was hidden by a whirlwind, and Elisha was filled with his spirit” (Sirach. 48:12). According to her, Elijah left his outer garment (“mercy”) to the prophet Elisha, dropping it from the chariot of fire.

The veneration of the prophet Elijah in Russia

The Prophet Elijah was one of the first saints to be venerated in Russia. In his honor, at the beginning of the 9th century, prince Askold  a cathedral church was erected in Kiev. Princess Olga  in the name of the prophet Elijah, she set up a church in the north of Russia.

After the adoption of Christianity by Russia, the image of Elijah the prophet replaced the thunder god Perun, revered by the ancient Slavs. The notion that Ilya travels in the sky in a chariot, thunders and sends lightning bolts in pursuit of a serpent is related both to the image of Perun and to the fact that the prophet Elijah came to heaven alive in a fiery chariot.

Ilyin day

After the adoption of Christianity, the day of remembrance of the prophet Elijah was dedicated to the traditional folk festival of the Eastern and Southern Slavs. The festival was called Ilyin Day.

Elijah the prophet with life and deesis. From the Church of Elijah the Prophet in the churchyard Vybuty, near Pskov. The end of the XII century. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Ilyin’s day was considered the boundary of the seasons, while among the southern Slavs (for example, in Macedonia) this day was called the middle of summer, and in Russia it was called a turn for the winter. After Ilyin, rains awaited the day. On this day, began to use the fruits of the new crop. The Slavs associated the holiday with a wedding and symbolism of fertility: they prayed for a rich harvest, and the girls - for getting married.

They started celebrating this holiday the day before - from Thursday before Ilyin’s day, when in some places ritual cookies were baked, or from Marina Lazoreva, when they stopped doing field work.

In addition, on the eve of Ilyin’s day, precautions were taken to protect their home, household, and crops from rain, hail, or lightning.

On this day, prayers were performed in the field and in churches and chapels dedicated to Elijah the prophet (often established by vow); in some places the peasants fasted all the previous week; they fumigated the house and buildings with incense, removed from the house or hid all shiny, sparkling objects in order to protect themselves from the anger of Ilya.

In Russia, almost universally, the obligatory rite of the day’s Ilyin was a collective meal ("brother") with the slaughter of a ram or a bull bought as a fold. In addition, beer or wort was brewed for Ilyina. Similar fraternities ended with youth festivities, games, round dances and songs. The organizers of Ilyina’s brotherhood, unlike other holidays, were men.

Ilyin’s day was considered the calendar boundary of the seasons, when the first signs of autumn appeared in nature and the behavior of animals, birds and insects changed.

On Ilyin, the day was strictly prohibited:

• work - labor on this day will not bring any result and may anger the Ilya the prophet, who severely punished for disrespectful attitude to his holiday. The worker was stopped and punished by his own villagers that day: in the Kaluga province, for example, a horse was pulled out of a cart on which he was going to carry hay, and the horse cart was taken to a tavern and drank together;
• to bathe - because from this day all evil spirits return (devils, mermaids, hair - from St. John's Day and still they were on land, where Ilya the Prophet shot them with lightning).

Sayings and signs of Ilyin’s day:

• Ilya holds a thunderstorm.
• Do not swords on Elijah’s hocks - it will burn up with heavenly fire.
• Peter (June 29) - with a spikelet, Ilya - with a spikelet.
• Since Ilyin’s day, the night is long and the water is cold.
• Ilya the prophet rides horses across the sky, and from a quick run one of the horses loses a horseshoe that falls into the water, and the water immediately becomes colder.
• Before Elijah, the pop of the rain will not beg; after Ilya, a woman will catch up with an apron.
• To the prophet Elijah a lamb's head on a table (Vologda province).
• On Ilyin’s day, cattle are not driven out into the pasture.
• After Ilya, mosquitoes stop biting.

Ahab - the king of the kingdom of Israel in 873 - 852 BC. e., son and heir of Omri. The history of his reign is detailed in the Third Book of Kings.

Enoch is the descendant of Seth, the son of Jared and the father of Methuselah, the seventh patriarch starting from Adam. The fifth chapter of Genesis states that Enoch “walked with God” and lived 365 years, after which “he was not, because God took him” (Genesis 5: 22-24).

***  Baal is a deity in the Assyro-Babylonian ethnic culture, revered in Phenicia, Canaan and Syria as a thunderer, god of fertility, water, war, sky and sun. Baal created heaven and earth, luminaries, animals from primitive chaos, and created man from a mixture of earth with his blood.

****  Prince Askold (died in 882) - Prince of Kiev (according to one version - he ruled in conjunction with Prince Deere).

reference:

Moscow has an Orthodox church in honor of the prophet Elijah—   Temple of Elijah the Prophet of the Ordinary. It is located at: 2nd Obydensky Lane, 6. The temple was built in 1702- 1706 on Ostozhye. Rector since November 2, 2012 - Archpriest Maxim Yuryevich Shevtsov.