by Bishop Gregory of Mesaoria
Today, our Church honors the memory of Prophet Elijah (Elias) of Tishbe, of the area of Gilead. We also celebrate the remembrance of the ascension of Prophet Elijah in the heavens in a chariot of fire, since, as it is well known, the Prophet Elijah did not die, but ascended physically to the heavens.
The Orthodox Christians praise with great reverence Prophet Elijah. This is testified by the many chapels, which we usually encounter in mountain peaks, to remind us of the roughness of life and the constant pursuits that the Prophet endured, and of course the scene of his ascension to heaven along with a fire chariot.
Prophet Elijah has not written a specific book, as part of the 49 Old Testament Books. However his life and activity are concentrated in the Books of Kings of the Old Testament, while St. John Chrysostom and other Fathers and Preachers of the Church have praised the Prophet.
Originating from Tishbe, during the reign of godless king Ahab (869-850 BC) and his idolatrous wife Jezebel, he publicly and rigorously refuted them.
His great faith and the zeal that distinguished Prophet Elijah enabled him, with the power of God, to accomplish great miracles, even to raise the dead child of a widow. With his warm prayers, God allowed him to open the sky by throwing fire, while in another case, he caused a heavy rain, after three and a half years of drought, again with the power of prayer.
For all this, he is rightly named by the hymnographer as an incarnate angel and a prophet of the prophets, and also a second precursor to the presence of Christ, since, according to the holy Gospel, he and Moses are the two persons of the Old Testament who appeared together with Jesus Christ, at the time of His Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.
Source: Church of Cyprus
