The Church Celebrates the Memory of God's Prophet Elijah
The Church honors the memory of the prophet who lived in the 9th century BC and became a model of unwavering faith for Christians of all ages.
On August 2, the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of the holy and glorious prophet Elijah the Tishbite. On this day, the faithful commemorate one of the greatest Old Testament righteous men, glorified for his fervent zeal for God and his miracles.
The holy prophet Elijah was born in Tishbe of Gilead, of the tribe of Levi, 900 years before the Birth of Christ. From his youth he labored in the desert in strict fasting and prayer. His prophetic ministry fell during the reign of King Ahab, who, under the influence of his wife Jezebel, spread the worship of the pagan god Baal throughout Israel.
The prophet fearlessly denounced idolatry and called the people to repentance. The most well-known episode of his life was the contest with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel, when at Elijah's prayer heavenly fire descended upon the altar, proving to the people the might of the true God.
Holy Scripture recounts the saint's numerous miracles: through the power of prayer he "shut" the heavens from rain for three and a half years, raised the son of the widow of Zarephath of Sidon from the dead, and multiplied her stores of flour and oil during a famine.
For his exceptional devotion to the Creator, the prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven alive on a fiery chariot in the presence of his disciple Elisha. He later appeared together with the prophet Moses on Mount Tabor during the Transfiguration of the Lord, conversing with the Savior about His forthcoming sufferings.
According to Church tradition, the prophet Elijah will become the Forerunner of the Second Coming of Christ to earth. He will descend from heaven to denounce the Antichrist and turn people to the true faith, after which he will undergo bodily death.
As the SPJ reported, the Primate of the UOC spoke about the feat of the Old Testament prophet Elijah.
