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As we know from the Bible, Elijah was born around the 9th century BC. As a boy, he was distinguished by a rare piety and the very young age, I went into the desert, where he lived in strict fasting and prayer.
Day of memory of one of the most respected biblical prophets - the prophet Elijah August 2 Ilyin Orthodox feast day.
In the prophetic ministry of the Lord called Elijah during the reign of Ahab and his wife Jezebel his declination to paganism. At the instigation of Jezebel, Ahab rejected their god and began to worship Baal, erecting altars to him and ordering his people to do the same thing he did.
Barefoot, in a rough cloak, Elijah appeared before the tsar's eyes and said to Ahab, that if he and his people will not return to the true faith, in their kingdom will hunger. The king did not heed the words of the prophet, and the country soon came the drought.
Elijah's Day celebration, the story of the prophet Elijah
Three years later, Elijah came again to the king and urged him to repent, but Ahab again refused to do. Elijah proposed to collect all the prophets of Baal and the people on Mount Carmel and make two of the altar, where to put the bulls. But no fire under them to light, and instead turning to their gods with prayers for a flame. The God who will respond, and is the true God.
This proposal was accepted. First, he made the altar of Baal. His priests prayed for a long time, but the fire from heaven, and did not come down. Then he made the altar of Elijah, watered it with water, and began to pray. Suddenly, all the fire fell from heaven and burned up not only of wood and calf, and twelve stones, which they were.
The people who saw this miracle, fell to his knees and began to glorify the true God.
After these events, Queen Jezebel ordered to kill Elijah, and he again went into the wilderness.
As a reward for the tremendous fortitude and devotion to faith, the Lord sent fiery chariot to heaven, in which the prophet was taken to heaven alive. This miraculous ascent saw the disciple of Elijah the prophet Elisha.
By the grace of the Lord's day, Elijah returned to earth. However, the prophet Moses during the Transfiguration of the Lord, he talked with Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor. According to church tradition, Elijah will come to earth again before the Second Coming and then we will take bodily death.
In the minds of the Russian people the image of uncompromising fighter against idolatry Elijah is closely related to the image of the pagan god Perun. Many features of Perun went to Ilya the Prophet, making it one of the most respected and revered Orthodox saints.
Ordinary people, he seemed a reliable defender and strict but fair judge, who is the image of a mighty terrible old man with a flowing white beard travels across the sky in a chariot of fire and lightning strikes occurring in the way of evil.
Elijah prayed for rain, the expulsion of demons and talent of a good harvest. With his name is associated with countless legends and superstitions will. It's hard to find another saint, whose image as a strong influence on the daily lives of people.
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