Icon with Saint Elijah - embroidered, framed, 21x27cm
Saint Elijah is considered "the greatest among prophets, rebuker of unrighteous kings and punisher of false prophets, wonder-worker and zealous for God, to whom the elements have submitted and the heavens have obeyed."
During his lifetime, he confronted Ahab, the Israelite king, and his wicked wife, Jezebel, who led people away from serving God, worshipping idols. When he reproached Ahab, Saint Elijah said: "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word!" (3 Kings 17:1). Praying by the brook Cherith, drought and famine struck the land.
After three and a half years, Saint Elijah prayed again to the Lord, and the rain returned, bringing relief to the earth and ending the famine.
Reaching the pinnacle of his virtue, the Prophet Elijah did not pass from death to eternal life, but was directly transported from this earthly existence to the heavenly one. He is the second person from the Old Testament to be bodily assumed into heaven. His disciple witnessed this miracle, seeing him ascend to heaven in a chariot of fire drawn by horses.
He was deemed worthy to behold the glory of God incarnate, alongside Moses and the three Apostles, on the day of the Transfiguration (cf. Matthew 17).
The Prophet Elijah of Tishbe, known for his miracles and for bringing rain in times of drought, is celebrated by Orthodox faithful on July 20th.
This celebration coincides with the Romanian Aviation Day, as since 1913, this saint has been the protector and patron of aviators.
