The Holy Prophet Elia
(Feast Day: July 20)

At a most critical period in the history of the Israelite people, God sent inspired leaders to call His people back to the worship of the One True God. First and greatest among these prophets was Elia (also called Elias or Elijah) the Tishbite who enters Israelite history with a dramatic suddenness (1 Kings 17). He prized belief in the One God and there was no deviation from his total dedication. Appropriately, the name Elia means, "the Lord is my God." The Feast of Elia is celebrated on July 20.

In the Icon depicting the Prophet Elia fed by ravens, shows that nature itself is governed by the will of God. The raven, a bird of prey, is chosen by God to be His instrument. God's words to Elia were: "You shall drink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed you there." (1 Kings 17:4)

St. Basil the Great gives an interpretation of this event: "The dwelling place of Elia was Mt. Carmel, a high, uninhabited mountain. The wilderness received the hermit; but it was the soul that instituted all for this righteous man, and the provision for his life's journey was hope in God. Yet despite this mode of life, he did not die of hunger; on the contrary, the most rapacious birds of prey brought him food. Those whose custom was to steal the food of others became servants at his table. At the command of the Lord they changed their nature and became fruitful guardians of bread and meat." This event is a prophetic prefiguration of the coming of the Kingdom of God in power. Elia the Prophet enjoys great popularity and appreciation.

In other Icons, Elia appears as a strict ascetic full of zeal for faith in the true God, yet, afraid of the love God has for him. He is pictured as a "hairy man' holding an open scroll which reads: "I have been most zealous for the Lord the God of hosts." (1 Kings 19:10

Known as Elias in the Greek and King James versions of the New Testament, Elia was a major prophet of God who lived in the eighth century B.C. and hailed from the Tishbe of Gilead during the reigns of Ahaziah and Ahab, the latter an idolater whom he vehemently denounced.

The worship of one God had weakened considerably among the tribes of Israel and was further debilitated when the worship of the god Baal was introduced by Jezebel, the wife of Ahab. Jezebel who brought forth a procession of idolatrous priests and erected temples to Baal, a god of nature, supposedly with the greater power than even the omnipotent God of Moses. Elia stormed against the evils of the priests of Baal, who were contaminating the pure worship of God and demoralizing the land with their illusions and deceptions and whose princess, Jezebel, was a malefactor of monstrous proportions. He fought the Canaanite god Baal at every turn and strove to revitalize the belief in the on God of the Universe, preaching to those whose faith had waned with an eloquence and passion that brought many strays back into the fold. He discredited the false prophets of Baal, who turned to the crafty Jezebel for reinforcements and the influence of the throne to turn the tables on this man of God.

Jezebel intensified her efforts to disprove Elia, who had correctly predicted a three-year drought that ravaged the land, ruining the crops and decimating the herds. He greeted this renewed assembly of priest of Baal with a derisive challenge to test the powers of God and those of Baal, a challenge which the haughty queen accepted, much to her later regret. The rest to decide which was the greater compromised a placing of sacrifices at two altars, one to Baal and the other to God. When all was in readiness each side would call for a fire to be ignited, the winner being the one whose flames were first lit.

Queen Jezebel herself appeared at the altar of Baal, and her priests were given the first opportunity to call forth the power to light the fire. They appealed to Baal, first in a reverent tone and then with increasing irritation until at last they gave up in disgust. Then the patient Elia stepped forward and at his first prayer, the fire burst for the, following which the onlookers, realizing the truth at last, swooped down on the false priests and killed them all. A further demonstration of the power of the Lord came when Elia called for an end to the drought and a heavenly rain descended, ending a three-year dry spell that had parched the land.

Thereafter Elia went to Mt. Sinai, where God had spoken to Moses, and on that holy spot he heard the words of God just as Moses had. He descended with instructions from God Himself, among which was the admonition to appoint as his successor a man named Elisha, who later became a prophet of God in his own right. Elia discovered that God was not necessarily a clap of thunder, a bolt of lightning, or a rumble in the hills, but He could be "a still, small voice."

Elia stood up to King Ahab and Queen Jezebel on many questions other than the worship of false gods. On one occasion, he dared to challenge the right of kings, accepted through the centuries, to do anything they chose without being guilty. This immunity from God's law was used to seize the vineyards of Naboth, killing the owner in the process. Elia dared to tell him that he was not above God's law and would, therefore, be punished by the Lord.

Elia did not die. He was carried away in a fiery chariot while yet alive. This introduced the thought that he would return to announce the Messiah. Thus, he is often mentioned in the New Testament, both in preparation for Christ and also by Christ. In fact, Christ identifies Elia and John the Baptist (Mk. 11:14) and thereby announces the end of the era of waiting. Through Elia, we see God's constant faithfulness to his people. He sends prophets in every age to lead His people in the knowledge of the One True God.

Troparion of the Holy Prophet Elia

The glorious Elia, incarnate messenger of God, pillar of prophets and second forerunner of the coming of Christ, sent grace from on high to Elisha that he might heal sickness and purigy the lepers; therefore, he intercedes in behalf of those who honor him.