- Статьи
- Society
- Why people turn to the Prophet Elijah in the most difficult moments of their lives: how the saint helps
Why people turn to the Prophet Elijah in the most difficult moments of their lives: how the saint helps
Every year on August 2, the Orthodox Church celebrates the memorial day of the prophet Elijah, one of the most revered saints of the Old Testament, a zealous fighter for the worship of the one God. About the life of the prophet, the miracles he performed and why he was asked for rain — in the material of Izvestia.
Who is the prophet of God Elijah?
The Prophet Elijah lived in the 9th century BC in the Kingdom of Israel and from his youth led a strict ascetic lifestyle. He strongly opposed the spread of the cult of Baal and Astarte in the country, which was actively planted by Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab.
Elijah predicted drought and famine to Ahab, and it did not rain in the land of Israel for almost three and a half years. At that time, the prophet was hiding by the stream of Khoraf: according to legend, crows brought him food, and later an Angel helped him. Then, by the will of God, Elijah settled in Sarepta with a widow. Through his prayer, flour and oil did not run out in her house during the drought, and when the woman's son died, Elijah raised him up.
One of the key episodes of the prophet's ministry is the contest on Mount Carmel. Elijah suggested that the king gather the people and erect two altars, one to God and the other to Baal. The priests of Baal have been calling out to their deity all day, but have received no response. Then Elijah ordered water to be poured abundantly over his altar, offered up a prayer, and fire descended from heaven, engulfing the sacrifice, firewood, and even stones. After that, the people came to believe in one God again, and Elijah executed 850 priests of Baal at the stream of Kisson.
"People wanted to honor God and preserve pagan cults at the same time. The Prophet shows that faith cannot be double. For a modern person, this plot is also understandable. Not only an ancient statue can become an idol, but also everything that we begin to trust more than God: power, money, success, self-righteousness. Karmil is a story about how sooner or later the heart must decide who it really hopes for," said Priest Sergiy Kubyshkin, rector of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica in the Baltic Pearl.
Elijah's earthly ministry ended with a miraculous ascension to heaven — the prophet was lifted up alive in a fiery chariot drawn by fiery horses. This miracle was witnessed by his disciple Elisha, to whom Elijah left a mantle as a sign of the continuity of his ministry. Before Elijah, only Enoch was taken alive to heaven.
"This is a sign of God's special providence for the prophet and the completion of his earthly path. For Elisha, it is also a moment of succession.: he remains at the mercy of the teacher, and he continues his ministry, that is, this story is not only about a miracle, but also about the responsibility of the student. At the same time, the event cannot be identified with the Ascension of Christ: Christ is exalted by His Divine authority, and Elijah is accepted by God," the priest explained.
At the same time, noted Priest Kubyshkin, the prophet did not remain in church history as an impeccable hero.
"Elijah did not leave behind a separate book of prophecies: his preaching is revealed in deeds, in prayer, in the courage to tell the truth even to the king. But the Scriptures don't make him a perfect hero. After Jezebel's threats, he gets scared, goes into the desert, gets exhausted and feels lonely. And God does not reproach him for his weakness, but gives him rest, food, and brings him back to service. That is why Elijah is close to man: the power of faith does not mean the absence of fear or fatigue. It manifests itself in the fact that a person, even weakened, turns back to God," the priest revealed the peculiarity of the image of the prophet.
Elijah is revered not only in Christianity, but also in Judaism (where his name is Eliyahu) and in Islam (Ilyas). The story of his life and deeds is set forth in the Third and Fourth Books of Kings.
How the Prophet Elijah helps
The Prophet Elijah is revered as a zealous defender of the true faith and a denouncer of idolatry, therefore they turn to him with prayers for strengthening faith, help in the fight against sinful passions, guidance on the path of repentance and goodness. The basis of such reverence is the very life of the prophet: he did not just preach, but visibly showed the power of God through miracles performed.
One of the most common reasons why believers turn to the prophet is to ask for favorable weather and fertility.
"The basis for this is right in the Holy Scriptures. Through Elijah's prayer, first there was a drought, and then it began to rain again. The Apostle James also reminds us of this, saying that Elijah was a man like us, but his fervent prayer had great power. Of course, the Church does not consider the prophet to be the lord of the elements. We ask for his prayerful intercession before God. And we ask not as a magical result, but with trust in God's will," the priest explained.
In addition, since Elijah performed healings in biblical times, believers pray to him for strengthening their health and getting rid of their ailments. They also turn to the prophet for intercession in persecution and poverty, in any difficulties of life, and ask him to protect them from ill-wishers and all kinds of evil. Women and girls pray to Elijah for a successful marriage, for the gift of children, for peace and harmony in the family.
How to pray to the Prophet Elijah correctly
There are various forms of addressing the prophet in the church: troparia, kontakion, canons, akathists, and individual prayers. Each of them has its own role: the troparion briefly glorifies the saint, the kontakion emphasizes his special ministry, the canon gives a detailed prayer word, and the akathist is a series of lines of praise and petitions.
"The Church has a troparion, kontakion, canon, akathist and prayers to the prophet. During droughts, prayer services can be held asking for rain, and in case of natural disasters, special requests for God's mercy can be made," the priest explained.
He emphasized that church prayer is not a formula that should automatically give the desired result. Its meaning is for a person to be able to put their need before God and accept the answer with faith. The purpose of prayer is not to get what you want at any cost, but to bring your heart into the right spiritual state: humility, repentance, and trust in Providence.
It is permissible to pray to a saint in your own words.
"It can be said quite simply: "Holy prophet of God Elijah, pray for me, strengthen my faith, help me not to depart from God." You can ask for rain, help in a difficult situation, courage, inner fortitude," explained Sergey Kubyshkin.
The most famous prayers to the Prophet Elijah
Troparion, glas 1
An angel in the flesh,/ the foundation of the prophets,/ The second forerunner of the coming of Christ, the glorious Elijah,/ who sent grace from above to Elysseus/ to drive away illnesses/ and to cleanse lepers,// who sharpens healing for those who honor him.
Kontakion, glas 2
Prophetess and seer of the great works of our God, / Name Elijah the Great,/ having established the watery regions with your message,// pray for us to the One Lover of mankind.
A personal petition for help in the famine
An angel in the flesh, the foundation of the prophets, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ, Elijah the glorious, who received food from the Angel and preached to the widow of Sarepta during the feast, himself and to us who honor thee, be a beneficent nourisher. Amen.
When the Church honors the memory of the Prophet Elijah
The Orthodox Church commemorates the Prophet Elijah on August 2. This is a non-recurring holiday with a fixed date. It is popularly called Elijah's Day.
"The memory of the Prophet Elijah is celebrated on August 2. It is good to attend the evening service on the eve and the Divine Liturgy on the holiday itself. It is the Liturgy that remains the center of church celebration. If a person was preparing for Communion, the holiday becomes for him not just a memory of the saint, but a living encounter with Christ. It is better to specify the specific schedule in advance in your church," Sergei Kubyshkin reminded.
For those who cannot visit the temple, the priest advises them to spend the day with spiritual benefits.
"You can pray at home, read the chapters about the prophet Elijah in the Third and Fourth Books of Kings, a troparion, or a short prayer to the saint. It's good to stop for a while, put aside the fuss and remember what his life teaches him. You can do a simple good deed — help someone in need, call a lonely person, and come to terms with someone you haven't talked to in a long time. This is not a substitute for worship, but it helps to live the holiday in a non—formal way," the priest noted.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
