Where did Elijah the prophet live? Other famous saints named Elijah. Prayer to Elijah the Prophet

The Prophet Elijah was born in Thesbia of Gilead in the tribe of Levi 900 years before the birth of Christ. According to the legend that has come down to us from Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus, when Elijah was born, his father had a mysterious vision: handsome men welcomed the baby, swaddled him with fire and fed him with a fiery flame.

The name of the prophet Elijah is translated as “My God is the Lord,” which expresses the main content of his ministry (cf. 3 Kings 18.36) - a zealous struggle for the worship of the one God and who demonstrated His power through his deeds.

The Holy Prophet Elijah was truly an ardent zealot of faith and piety; from an early age he devoted himself to the One God, lived in the desert, spent time in fasting, prayer and piety. His prophetic ministry occurred during the reign of the most wicked Israeli king, Ahab. Jezebel, Ahab's wife, convinced her husband to accept the pagan religion.

The worship of Baal was cultivated in the country, the people fell away from the true faith of their ancestors in the One God, the prophets of Israel were persecuted and killed. To admonish the king and the Israeli people corrupted by him, the prophet Elijah struck the land with a three-year drought, “closing the heavens with prayer.” After this, in order to avoid the wrath of Jezebel, at the direction of God, he hid at the stream Horath, where ravens brought him bread and meat every morning and evening.

The people at that time suffered from unbearable heat and hunger. The Old Testament legend tells that the Lord, in His mercy, seeing the suffering of people, was ready to spare everyone and send rain to the earth, but did not want to violate the words of the prophet Elijah. It was important for the prophet to turn the hearts of the Israelites to repentance and return them to true worship of God.

After some time the stream dried up. Prophet Elijah, according to the word of God, went to Zarephath of Sidon to visit a poor widow. Because she did not spare the last handful of flour and oil, through the prayer of the prophet Elijah, flour and oil have not been exhausted in the widow’s house since then. Here the prophet Elijah performs another miracle: he revived the widow’s suddenly ill and dead son, sympathizing with the woman’s grief.

In the third year of drought, the prophet Elijah returned to Ahab. The prophet Elijah proposed a contest with the priests of Baal to find out whose god was the true one. Having gathered the people on Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah proposed to build two altars: one from the priests of Baal, the other from the prophet Elijah to serve the True God. “On which of them fire falls from heaven, that will be an indication whose God is true,” said the prophet Elijah, “and everyone will have to worship Him, and those who do not recognize Him will be put to death.”

The priests of Baal danced, prayed and stabbed themselves with knives all day, but nothing happened. By evening, the holy prophet Elijah erected his altar of 12 stones, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, laid the sacrifice on the firewood, ordered a ditch to be dug around the altar, and ordered to water the sacrifice and firewood with water. When the ditch was filled with water, the fiery prophet turned to God with a fervent prayer and petition, so that the Lord would send fire from heaven to admonish the erring and embittered Israeli people and turn their hearts to Himself. Fire fell from the sky and ignited the sacrifice of the prophet Elijah.

The people shouted: “Truly the Lord is One God and there is no other God besides Him!” Then, by order of the prophet Elijah, the priests were killed. Through the prayer of the prophet Elijah, the Lord sent abundant rain to the earth, and the drought ended.

However, despite the miracles and great signs that happened through the prayer of the prophet, Jezebel wanted to kill him because he put the priests of Baal to death. Persecution and persecution begin again. Ilya runs into the desert. This stern and unyielding zealot of the true faith fell into despair for the first time - it seemed to him that only he remained faithful to the true God, that there was no one left on earth to whom he could convey and preserve the faith of the fathers in the One God.

And on Mount Harib, this great prophet was honored, as far as is possible for a person, to contemplate God face to face. The Lord consoled him, saying that there were still people on earth who had never worshiped idols, and pointed Elijah to Elisha, whom He chose as a prophet after Elijah. Such a striking event in the life of the prophet Elijah showed him how merciful the Lord is, that He is not only a formidable punishing judge. Elisha became a disciple of the prophet Elijah and witnessed his ascent to heaven in a chariot of fire.

Elijah was taken to Heaven alive: “ suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared, and separated them both, and Elijah rushed in a whirlwind to Heaven"(2 Kings 2:11). According to the Bible, before him, only Enoch, who lived before the Flood, was taken alive into heaven (Gen. 5:24).

The Apocryphal Book of Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach describes this event as follows: “ Elijah was hidden by a whirlwind, and Elisha was filled with his spirit"(Sirach.48:12). According to it, Elijah left his outer clothing (“mantle”) for the prophet Elisha, throwing it off the fiery chariot.

The Prophet Elijah appears again in the New Testament: during the Transfiguration of the Lord, he, along with the Prophet Moses, appeared on Mount Tabor to talk with Jesus Christ.

According to Church tradition, the prophet Elijah will appear on Earth again. He will be the forerunner of the second coming of Christ to earth and will accept physical death during the sermon.

Veneration of the Prophet Elijah in Rus'

The Prophet Elijah was one of the first saints of God who began to be revered in Rus'. In his name, even under Prince Askold, at the beginning of the 9th century, a cathedral church was erected in Kyiv. And the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga built a church in the name of the prophet of God Elijah in the north of Rus', in the village of Vybuty.

The holy prophet Elijah, who labored in ancient times in distant Palestine, has always been perceived by the Orthodox Russian people as one of the saints closest to our fatherland. Processions of the cross were and are still taking place in the Ilyinsky churches, especially during drought.

Elijah's day was considered the boundary of the seasons, while among the southern Slavs (for example, in Macedonia) this day was called midsummer, and in Russia - the turn to winter. After Ilyin's day, rain was expected and it was forbidden to swim (so as not to drown or get sick). On this day one could begin to enjoy the fruits of the new harvest. The holiday was associated in the ideas of the Slavs with the theme of marriage and the symbolism of fertility: they prayed for a rich harvest, and girls prayed for getting married.

Articles

Sermons

On modern idolatry (on the day of God's prophet Elijah). His Holiness Patriarch Kirill

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. Word on the day of the feast of the prophet Elijah.

Archpriest Sergiy Khmyrov. Word on the day of the prophet Elijah.

Prayers

Magnification to the Prophet Elijah

We magnify you, / holy, glorious prophet of God Elijah, / and honor (to Heaven / in a chariot of fire, / your glorious ascent.

Troparion to the Prophet Elijah

In the flesh, an Angel, / the foundation of the prophets, / the second Forerunner of the coming of Christ, the glorious Elijah, / who sent Elisha’s grace from above / to drive away illnesses / and to cleanse lepers, / he also brings healing to those who worship him.

Kontakion to the Prophet Elijah, voice 2:

Prophet and seer of the great deeds of our God, the great Elijah, who filled the watercourse clouds with your broadcasts, pray for us to the only Lover of Mankind.

Prayer 1

O most praiseworthy and wonderful prophet of God, Elijah, who shone upon the earth with your life equal to the angels, with your most ardent zeal for the Lord God Almighty, also with glorious signs and wonders, even by God’s extreme favor towards you, prenaturally caught up on a chariot of fire with your flesh to heaven, vouchsafed to converse with transfigured on Tabor as the Savior of the world, and now dwell unceasingly in their heavenly villages and stand before the throne of the Heavenly King!

Hear us, sinners and indecent ones, who at this hour stand before your holy icon and diligently resort to your intercession. Pray for us, the Lover of Mankind, God, may he give us the spirit of repentance and contrition for our sins and may His omnipotent grace help us to leave the paths of wickedness, and to succeed in every endeavor, may He strengthen us in the fight against our passions and lusts, may He plant us in our hearts the spirit of humility and meekness, the spirit of brotherly love and kindness, the spirit of patience and chastity, the spirit of zeal for the glory of God and good care for one’s salvation and one’s neighbors.

Abolish with your prayers, prophet, the evil customs of the world, especially the destructive and pernicious spirit of this age, infecting the Christian race with disrespect for the Divine Orthodox faith, for the charter of the Holy Church and for the commandments of the Lord, disrespect for parents and those in power, and casting people into the abyss of wickedness , corruption and destruction.
Turn away from us, most wonderfully prophesied, by your intercession the righteous wrath of God and deliver all the cities and towns of our fatherland from rainlessness and famine, from terrible storms and earthquakes, from deadly plagues and diseases, from the invasion of enemies and internecine warfare.

Strengthen with your prayers, O glorious one, those who hold our power in the great and arduous task of governing the people, prosper them in all good deeds and undertakings for the establishment of peace and truth in our country.
Help the Christ-loving army in battle with our enemies.

Ask, prophet of God, from the Lord for our shepherds holy zeal for God, heartfelt concern for the salvation of the flock, wisdom in teaching and governance, piety and strength in temptation, ask the judges for impartiality and selflessness, righteousness and compassion for the offended, for all those in authority to care for their subordinates, mercy and justice, and submission to the subordinates and care for their obedience.

Yes, having lived in peace and piety in this world, we will be worthy to partake of eternal blessings in the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom honor and worship are due with His Beginning Father and the Most Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 2

O holy, glorious prophet of God Elijah, great zealot of the law of God. You were a fair and brave avenger in the murder of the priests of Baal: for you wanted to see the glory of God not begging, but multiplied forever, and you were not afraid of their multifarious fury, for you slaughtered the priests of Jezebel on the potots of Kissov with a knife, watch as a whirlwind Having been caught in a fiery chariot, you ascended to the heights of heaven with glory. For this reason, we, unworthy and sinners, humbly pray to you, honest prophet of God: grant us worthily to glorify and sing of your most honorable intercession, so that having found you as a great intercessor, we may be worthy of rich mercy from the Lord.

Even now, gloriously pleasing thee, we pray: protect our kingdom with peace, and deliver us from every slander of the enemy, from hunger, and cowardice, and the fire of lightning, and do not forget, sinners, your blessed memory, who celebrate and constantly glorify the Lord who glorified you. forever and ever.

Prayer 3

O great and glorious prophet of God Elijah, for the sake of your zeal for the glory of the Lord God Almighty, you could not bear to see the idolatry and wickedness of the children of Israel, denouncing the lawless king Ahab, and in punishment of those, a three-year famine on the land of Israel, through your prayer you asked from the Lord, yes, rejecting vile idols and having retreated from untruths and iniquities, he will turn to the one true God and the fulfillment of His holy commandments, wonderfully nurturing the widow of Sarepta during the famine and resurrecting her son after she died through your prayer, and after the passage of the appointed time of famine, the people of Israel were gathered to Mount Carmel for apostasy and wickedness, reproaching , the same prayer for your sacrifice, asking for fire from heaven, and miraculously turning Israel to the Lord, putting to shame and killing the cold prophets of Baal, and by prayer again resolving the sky and asking for abundant rain on the earth, and making the people of Israel rejoice! To you, wonderful servant of God, we diligently resort to sin and humility, tormented by lack of rain and heat; We confess that we are unworthy of God’s mercy and blessings, but that we are more worthy than the cruel punishments of His wrath, sorrow and need, and all kinds of evils and illnesses. We did not walk in the fear of God and in the fetters of His commandments, but in the lusts of our corrupted hearts and created every kind of sin countlessly; Our iniquity has surpassed our head, and we are not worthy to appear before the face of God and look into heaven.

We confess that we, like ancient Israel, have apostatized from the Lord our God, if not by faith, then by our iniquities, and if we do not worship Baal and other vile idols, then we are servile to our passions and lusts, serving the idol of gluttony and lust, the idol of greed and ambition, the idol of pride and vanity, and follow the ungodly foreign customs and the destructive spirit of the times.

We confess that for this reason heaven was closed and created like copper, as if our heart was closed with mercy and true love for our neighbor; For this reason, the earth has hardened and become barren, because we do not bring to our Lord the fruits of good deeds; for this reason there is no rain and dew, as if the imams are not the tears of tenderness and the life-giving dew of the thought of God; For this reason, every grain and herb has withered away, as if every good feeling had been destroyed in us; For this reason, the air is darkened, just as our mind is darkened with cold thoughts and our heart is defiled with lawless lusts.

We confess that you, the prophet of God, are unworthy to ask.

You, having become a servile man to us, became like an Angel in your life and, like an incorporeal being, you were caught up into heaven; We, through our cold thoughts and deeds, have become like dumb cattle, and have made our soul like flesh.

You amazed angels and men with fasting and vigil, but we, indulging in intemperance and lust, become like unthinking cattle.

You burned with the utmost zeal for the glory of God, but we neglect the glory of our Creator and Lord, and are ashamed to confess His venerable name.

You have eradicated wickedness and evil customs, but we are slaves to the spirit of this age, supplying the ungodly customs of the world more than the commandments of God and the statutes of the holy Church. And what sin and untruth have we not committed? Our iniquities exhaust the long-suffering of God. Moreover, the just Lord was angry with us, and in His anger punished us.

Moreover, knowing your great boldness before the Lord and trusting in your love for the human race, we dare to pray to you, most praiseworthy prophet: be merciful to us, unworthy and indecent, beg the generous and all-generous God, so that he will not be completely angry with us and will not destroy us with our iniquities, but let abundant and peaceful rain fall on the thirsty and parched land, and grant it fruitfulness and the goodness of the air; bow with your effective intercession to the mercy of the Heavenly King, if not for the sake of us sinners and vile ones, but for the sake of His chosen servants, who have not bowed their knees before the Baal of this world, for the sake of gentle and senseless babies, for the sake of dumb cattle and birds of the air, suffering for our iniquities and melting away from hunger, heat and thirst.

Ask us with your favorable prayers from the Lord for the spirit of repentance and heartfelt tenderness, the spirit of meekness and self-control, the spirit of love and patience, the spirit of the fear of God and piety, so that, having returned from the paths of wickedness to the right path of virtue, we walk in the light of God’s commandments and achieve those promised to us good, by the good will of the beginningless God the Father, by the love of His Only Begotten Son and by the grace of the All-Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Prayer 4

O holy prophet of God Elijah, pray for us to God, the Lover of Mankind, to give us, the servants of God (names), may the spirit of repentance and contrition for our sins, and by His omnipotent grace help us to leave the paths of wickedness, to succeed in every good work, and in the fight against our passions and lusts may He strengthen us; May the spirit of humility and meekness, the spirit of brotherly love and kindness, the spirit of patience and chastity, the spirit of zeal for the glory of God and good care for the salvation of ourselves and our neighbors, implant into our hearts.

Turn away from us the righteous wrath of God by your intercession, so that having lived in peace and piety in this world, we will be worthy of the communion of eternal blessings in the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom honor and worship are due, with His Beginning Father and the Most Holy Spirit, forever and ever. .

Poems and proverbs

God - Elijah

Do not be distressed, My Prophet!
There is an hour for everything, there is a deadline for everything;
Let vice grow, boasting:
Be evil for good in a holy lesson!
But don't be sad! Your Master
There's not quite another one here,
Not everyone went to Baal online!
God has secret children,
There is a secret incense of hearts,
Which is sweet to me to smell!
They run to Me furtively,
And I appear to them in secret;
And I cherish them, enlighten them
High, true, holy!

F. Glinka

Elijah to God

We are waiting and can't wait
This calamity with wickedness at:
Your prophets were slaughtered,
Your altars have been broken!
Wake up, God of strength! Speak!
There is no place for Your shrine,
And now I am a desert dweller,
I cry in front of you alone!
And you tolerate them, Lord
Lands, seas and clouds!
You suffer from Your slaves!

F. Glinka 1826 or 1827

Proverbs

“Ilya is finishing the summer and reaping the harvest; the first sheaf - the first autumn holiday"

“For Ilya, it’s summer before lunch, and after it’s autumn.”

“The guy has something new for Elijah’s Day, he’s fed up with the new product.”

“Ilya the Prophet - mowing time

“The water has been getting cold since Ilya’s day”

“Before Elijah’s Day, rain will come into the bin, and after Elijah’s Day, it will rain out of the bin.”

“From Ilya’s day the night is long and the water is cold”

“Ilya holds thunderstorms, Ilya gives bread”

“Before Ilya, a man bathes, and after Ilya, he says goodbye to the river.”

Prophet Elijah is considered one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox and Catholic faith. It may seem strange, but to date nothing is known about the origin of this man and his ancestry. The soothsayer is a significant figure in history.

Who is the prophet Elijah?

Biblical prophet who lived in Israel in the 9th century BC. e. - Prophet Elijah. The saint is revered in all monotheistic religions. He is considered the patron of the Airborne Forces and the Air Force. In Christianity it is revered on July 20. In Slavic folk tradition, he was considered the lord of thunder, rain and heavenly fire. People believed that Elijah moved across the sky in a chariot and struck bad people with lightning.

Prophet Elijah - life

From Hebrew the name of the saint is translated as “My God.” Elijah was born 900 years before the birth of Christ. Tradition says that before the birth of his son, the prophet’s father had a vision that the baby was greeted by handsome men and swaddled in fire. From early childhood, the prophet Elijah dedicated his life to the Lord. He lived in the desert, constantly fasting and praying. At that time, the ruler was King Ahab, who was a pagan and he worshiped the god Baal.

At first, in order to enlighten the king, the prophet sent a drought to the earth with his prayer, but after some time he sent rain. The prophet Elijah killed the priests of Baal to prove to everyone the power of the Lord. During his life, the saint performed a huge number of miracles, for example, he saved a widow from hunger, and also resurrected her dead son. The prophet Elijah is also mentioned in the Old Testament, where he and Moses arrived at Mount Tabor. The Lord took the saint to heaven alive.

Prophet Elijah - miracles

There are many facts known in history regarding the miraculous manifestations of the saint’s prayer. It is important to note that it was not Elijah who performed miracles, but the Lord acts with his hands.

1. He brought fire down to earth to punish sinners and to signify the Truth of God’s worship.
2. By hitting the Jordan River with his clothes, the biblical prophet Elijah was able to divide them, like Moses.
3. During his lifetime, he managed to talk face to face with the Lord, but he only had to cover his own with his hand.
4. The holy prophet Elijah was ascended alive to Heaven for his righteous life. There are versions that he did not go to heaven, but to another place where he will await the second coming of Christ.
5. With his prayers he controlled the weather, so he could stop and send rain to the earth.
6. With the help of prophecies, he revealed the will of the Lord to people.
7. Prophet Elijah resurrected the boy and helped a huge number of people get rid of diseases and even fatal ones.

How does Elijah the prophet help?

There are several prayer texts that are addressed to the prophet.

1. Since Ilya controlled the forces of nature, people turned to him to ask for blessings for field work and for a good harvest.
2. The Prophet of God Elijah helps to attract good luck, improve your financial situation and successfully resolve any matter.
3. Sincere prayers help to heal from any illness.
4. Single girls turn to the saint to improve their personal lives, so single people ask for a worthy life partner, and couples ask for a happy life.
5. The prophet Elijah protects from passions, anger and various negativity. If you pray to him regularly, there will be peace and mutual understanding in the house.

Holy Prophet Elijah - prayer

You can turn to the saint for help at any time and the place does not matter. It is important to have sincerity in the heart and unshakable faith that the spoken words will be heard. It is best if the prayer to the holy prophet Elijah is read in front of the image, which is in the temple or can be bought in the church shop. You need to light a candle in front of the icon, cross yourself and read a prayer.

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

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

Life of the Prophet Elijah

Childhood and youth

Elijah grew up in an atmosphere of piety and purity, often going into the desert and offering prayers to God. The Lord loved the young man and answered his prayers. The future prophet saw idolatry and debauchery around him. 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.

Reproof of the King and Famine in Israel

Elijah began his active work during the reign of Ahab in Israel. He was married to the Phoenician Jezebel, who adhered to the cult of the pagan gods Baal (Baal) and Astarte (Asherah). She had a huge influence on her husband, and under the pressure of his wife, the king, who himself worshiped golden calves instead of the Most High, built a temple to Baal. The veneration of God in the kingdom of Israel was practically stopped, and the 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 denounced Ahab.

To bring the king to reason, Elijah performed many miracles, but Ahab remained indifferent to them. Moreover, the worship of idols spread more and more and soon reached absolute limits. The prophet predicted to the king that the price 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 would soon be fulfilled. Per country a terrible drought occurred, leading to famine. According to legend, the Lord, out of His mercy, would have liked to send rain to the exhausted Jews, but did not do this, so as not to violate the words of Elijah, who wanted the Israelis to repent and turn to the true God. The prophet himself was at that time in the desert. Every morning and evening for a year, ravens would fly to him and bring him food.

The prophet then went to Zarephath of Sidon (today's Lebanon) to visit a poor widow whose son Jonah had just died. She gave the last flour and oil that she had at home for Elijah. For this, through the prayers of the prophet, these products never ran out. Moreover, he resurrected a newly deceased child. Subsequently, Jonah also became a prophet. Ilya spent another two years with this woman.

Competition with idolaters and bringing down rain

After all this time, Elijah finally came to Samaria and showed himself to Ahab. It was decided that The sacrifice will take place on Mount Carmel, which will determine who is more powerful - God Yahweh or Baal.

First, the priests placed a butchered calf on the altar of the idol and began to ask Baal to send them fire and burn their sacrifice. The pagan god turned out to be weaker, and the priests could not force him to show his strength. Then it was Elijah's turn.

He also placed a calf on the altar and dug a ditch around it, and then asked the people to fill both the ditch and the altar along with the calf with water. The people did just that. After this, the prophet prayed to the Lord, and he sent fire from heaven onto Elijah’s sacrifice. Seeing this, the people submitted to the greatness of God.

Elijah ordered the people to take the priests to the mouth of the Kishon River, and there the prophet dealt with them with his own hands. Then he again offered a prayer to God, and heavy rain fell on the ground, for whom all the people yearned.

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

Last years on earth

And at this time King Ahab wanted to take possession of a vineyard, located next door to his palace. However, Naboth, the owner of the vineyard, refused to sell it to the king. Jezebel decided to arrange her unjust trial of Naboth and persuaded the elders of the city to confirm that the vinedresser allegedly blasphemed. The trial took place, and the slandered owner was taken out of the city and stoned to death.

Having learned about 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, Jezebel, and his entire family would soon perish. Ahab then found the strength to repent, and God forgave him and averted the punishment, saying that troubles would befall 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 a worshiper of Baal. One day, the king was injured by falling from the roof of the palace, and sent assistants to the idol of the pagan god so that they would know when Ahaziah would recover. However, Elijah met them and said that for worshiping demons the young king would die in his illness, and this soon happened. Joram, the brother of Ahaziah, became the ruler. Under him, God's punishment was fulfilled, and the entire royal family was destroyed. Jezebel also died - she was thrown out of the window, and the corpse was torn apart by dogs.

After choosing a successor according to the Lord’s will in the person of the prophet Elisha, Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire. In Orthodox theology, there is a point of view according to which the prophet was not taken to heaven, but to some hidden place, where he will remain 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 we were talking 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 to earth again to expose the Antichrist and convince the Jews to believe in God.

Miracles Performed by the Prophet

In the Third and Fourth Books of Kings, which describe the life of the prophet Elijah, the following miracles performed by him are told:

• lack of rain and hunger due to his prayers;
• feeding the prophet by ravens according to the word of God;
• resurrection of the son of the Sarepta widow;
• through his prayers, the widow’s house never ran out of food;
• bringing down fire on the altar;
• rainfall after three years of drought;
• communicated with the Lord face to face, while covering his face with his hands;
• hitting the Jordan River with clothing, he divided it in two, like Moses;
• ascending alive to heaven.

Veneration in Rus'

In Rus' The prophet Elijah has been revered almost since his 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 Rus' were, like the prophet, to destroy the sin of idolatry in people. Other temples in his honor were located in cities such as:

• Kyiv;
• Velikiy Novgorod;
• Pskov.

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

Today it is best known in our capital - Moscow at 6 Obydenny Lane, built back in 1592. During the Time of Troubles, the clergy within the walls of this church asked for God's help against the Polish occupiers.

On March 1, 1930, the Soviet authorities closed the temple, but two and a half months later, on May 20, it was returned to believers. The second attempt to close the church was scheduled for June 22, 1941, but this was prevented by the Great Patriotic War that began on that day.

Another temple in honor of Elijah the Prophet built in Northern Butovo since 2012 on Kulikovskaya street. Services are currently being held in a temporary building, but the richness of parish life will be the envy of other large churches: there is a consulting organization on church service issues, a Sunday school, an Orthodox club and a sports section.

The image of a prophet in our time

Today, Elijah 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 heavenly patron of the airborne troops, as well as the air force. On August 2 of every year, services in honor of the prophet are held in churches at airborne units.

The sacred books contain a huge number of descriptions of miracles revealed through the lives of holy people. Many of them are connected with the history of the saint of God, Elijah the Prophet, revered by all believers.

The life story of the great Prophet Elijah evokes delight and surprise. His veneration is due to a number of miracles performed by him during his life and after gaining the Kingdom of Heaven. The holy saint will hear and cover every person who turns to him in prayer and will cover him with a veil of intercession.

History of the icon

900 years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Elijah was born. His name means "of the Lord." During his life, the saint was a zealous Christian, his sermons inspired faith and immeasurable love for the Creator in the hearts of people.

The prophet had a gift and saw what was invisible to others. The saint of God predicted unbearable heat and droughts for the sins of the people. The Lord Himself, seeing the torment and suffering of people, could not send even one drop of rain, so as not to disrupt the holy mission of the prophet Elijah.

The saint sought to convert lost souls to worship and repentance. The time came when drought dried up the last source of water. Ilya, like all people, was hungry, but did not turn away from the faith and strength sent to him from Above. In one of the most difficult moments, the saint asked a poor woman for shelter and food. For the kindness that the widow did not refuse, her house no longer knew hunger.

In prayer, Elijah turned to God, asking him to give him strength. The inexplicable miracle of resurrection also dates back to his lifetime and is considered one of the miracles performed by the great prophet.

But, despite the miracles, he was persecuted and hid from pagan persecution. There is a legend that Prophet Elijah did not die, but being alive went to God in a heavenly chariot.

Description of the icon

The canons of icon painting go back to ancient times, where the saint was depicted with long hair, a thick beard and with a scroll of Holy Scripture in his hands. A distinctive feature of modern icons is the depiction of different subjects. In one image, Ilya is depicted with a raven, in the other - with a Heavenly chariot. Much has been modified, but the general meaning has been preserved in all subsequent lists.

Where is the icon

In almost every region of Russia, churches of God have been erected to the holy prophet, in which there are copies of icons. Therefore, we should point out only the most significant images that showed the world a miracle.

The first and oldest icon is located in Moscow, in the Church of the Prophet Elijah. The ancient image of the saint is decorated with stamps and depicts a plot from the life of the saint. Also in this temple is kept the second icon of the saint of God, which depicts scenes of Elijah’s life in the desert.

The second temple of the Prophet Elijah, as well as the third church in the name of the saint of God, were also erected in Moscow. One of the revered images takes part in religious processions, another adorns the entrance to the Upper Temple, the third image is kept in the Transfiguration Monastery.

What does an icon help with?

The miraculous image of the saint helps you succeed in absolutely any undertaking. People turn to the help of the prophet of God in moments of weakening faith, captivity of passions, slander and unbelief. Prayers strengthen faith and grant blessings in deeds, protect against poverty, decline and disease. With the image of the great prophet, peace, prosperity and prosperity will come to the house.

Prayer before the icon of the Prophet Elijah

“Holy prophet of the Lord Elijah, I appeal to you, lover of mankind and righteous man of God. Offer the prayers of unworthy servants (name) to our Father, may He hear our repentance and contrition for shameful sins. May heavenly intercession help us move away from vice and the devil’s tricks. Strengthen our faith, grant humility and meekness, love for our neighbor, patience. Deliver, great saint, with your prayer from the wrath of the Creator. You, who have lived in the world and tasted sorrows, we glorify you, wishing you eternal blessings in the Kingdom of the Lord. We give glory to our Father, the merciful Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen".

Days of celebration

The veneration of the icon takes place on the popularly known Orthodox holiday of Elijah’s Day. Believers pay tribute to God's prophet Elijah on August 2. And the huge number of traditions associated with this day makes the festival one of the favorite and revered celebrations in Russia.

Only faith and observance of all the commandments of the Lord will give you a happy destiny, love and grace. We wish you well-being and strong faith. be happyand don't forget to press the buttons and

02.08.2017 04:38

Matrona of Moscow is one of the saints beloved and revered by Orthodox believers. Since birth she...

The holy prophet Elijah - one of the greatest prophets and the first virgin of the Old Testament - was born in Thesbia of Gilead in the tribe of Levi 900 years before the Incarnation of God the Word.

Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus reports the following legend about the birth of the prophet Elijah: “When Elijah was born, his father Sovakh saw in a vision that handsome men greeted him, swaddled him with fire and fed him with a fiery flame.” The name Elijah (the fortress of the Lord) given to the baby determined his entire life. From an early age he devoted himself to the One God, settled in the desert and spent his life in strict fasting, contemplation of God and prayer. Called to prophetic service under the Israeli king Ahab, the prophet became a fiery zealot for true faith and piety. At that time, the Israeli people fell away from the faith of their fathers, abandoned the One God and worshiped pagan idols, the veneration of which was introduced by the wicked king Jeroboam. The wife of King Ahab, the pagan Jezebel, especially supported idolatry. The worship of the idol Baal led the Israelites to complete moral decay. Seeing the death of his people, the prophet Elijah began to denounce King Ahab of wickedness, urging him to repent and turn to the True God. The king did not listen to him. Then the prophet Elijah announced to him that, as punishment, there would be no rain or dew on the earth for three years and the drought would end only through his prayer. And indeed, through the prayer of the prophet, the sky closed, and drought and famine occurred throughout the entire earth. The people suffered from unbearable heat and hunger. The Lord, in His mercy, seeing the suffering of the people, was ready to spare everyone and send rain to the earth, but did not want to violate the words of the prophet Elijah, who was burning with the desire to turn the hearts of the Israelis to repentance and return them to true worship of God. Preserving the prophet Elijah from the hands of Jezebel, the Lord sent him during the disaster to a hidden place near the stream Cherith. The Lord commanded the predatory crows to bring food to the prophet, thereby instilling in him pity for the suffering people. When the stream of Choreth dried up, the Lord sent the prophet Elijah to Zarephath of Sidon to a poor widow who suffered with her children in anticipation of starvation. At the request of the prophet, she prepared him unleavened bread from the last handful of flour and the rest of the oil. Then, through the prayer of the prophet Elijah, flour and oil from then on did not run out in the widow’s house throughout the famine. By the power of his prayer, the great prophet performed another miracle: he resurrected the dead son of this widow. After three years of drought, the Merciful Lord sent a prophet to King Ahab to end the disaster. The Prophet Elijah ordered all Israel and the priests of Baal to be gathered to Mount Carmel. When the people gathered, the prophet Elijah proposed to build two altars: one from the priests of Baal, the other from the prophet Elijah to serve the True God. “On which of them fire falls from heaven, that will be an indication whose God is true,” said the prophet Elijah, “and everyone will have to worship Him, and those who do not recognize Him will be put to death.” The priests of Baal were the first to begin the sacrifice: they called out to the idol from morning to evening, but in vain - the sky was silent. In the evening, the holy prophet Elijah erected his altar of 12 stones, according to the number of tribes of Israel, laid the sacrifice on the firewood, ordered a ditch to be dug around the altar, and ordered to water the sacrifice and firewood with water. When the ditch was filled with water, the fiery prophet turned to God with a fervent prayer and petition, so that the Lord would send fire from heaven to admonish the erring and embittered Israeli people and turn their hearts to Himself. At the prayer of the prophet, fire came down from heaven and burned the sacrifice, wood, stones and even water. The people fell to the ground, crying out: “Truly the Lord is One God and there is no other God besides Him!” Then the prophet Elijah killed all the priests of Baal and began to pray for the sending of rain. Through his prayer, the sky opened and abundant rain fell, watering the thirsty earth.

King Ahab realized his error and mourned his sins, but his wife Jezebel threatened to kill the prophet of God. The prophet Elijah fled to the kingdom of Judea and, grieving over his powerlessness to eradicate idolatry, asked God for his death. An Angel of the Lord appeared to him, strengthened him with food and commanded him to go on a long journey. The prophet Elijah walked for forty days and nights and, having reached Mount Horeb, settled in a cave. Here, after a terrible storm, earthquake and flame, the Lord appeared “in a still wind” (3 Kings 19:12) and revealed to the grieving prophet that He had preserved seven thousand faithful slaves who did not worship Baal. The Lord commanded the prophet Elijah to anoint (or dedicate) Elisha to the prophetic ministry. For his fiery zeal for the Glory of God, the prophet Elijah was taken to Heaven alive in a fiery chariot. The prophet Elisha witnessed the ascent of the prophet Elijah to heaven in a fiery chariot and received, along with his fallen mantle (cloak), the gift of a prophetic spirit twice as great as the prophet Elijah had.

According to the tradition of the Holy Church, the prophet Elijah will be the Forerunner of the Terrible Second Coming of Christ to earth and will suffer bodily death during the sermon.

The life of the holy prophet Elijah is described in the Old Testament books (3 Kings; 4 Kings; Sir. 48, 1-15; 1 Mac. 2, 58). During the Transfiguration of the Lord, the prophet Elijah talked with the Savior on Mount Tabor (Matthew 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30).

Since the day of the fiery ascension to Heaven of the Prophet Elijah, his veneration in the Church of Christ has never been interrupted. The Russian Orthodox Church sacredly honors the prophet Elijah. The first church built in Kyiv under Prince Igor was in the name of the prophet Elijah. After Baptism, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga (July 11) built the temple of the Prophet Elijah in her homeland, in the village of Vybuty.

The iconographic tradition depicts the prophet Elijah ascending on a chariot with wheels of fire, which is surrounded on all sides by flames and harnessed by four winged horses.