August 2 — Elijah's Day: the history of the holiday, signs, what can and cannot be done

Every year on August 2, the Orthodox Church celebrates St. Elijah's Day, or the Day of Elijah the Prophet, one of the most revered saints of the Old Testament. In 2025, it falls on a Saturday. Read about the miracles performed by the prophet Elijah and why you can't swim on his holiday in the Izvestia article.

The history of Elijah's Day holiday

The Prophet Elijah lived in the 9th century before the Birth of Christ. According to legend, when he was born, the father of the future saint saw in a dream how angels swaddled the child with fire and fed him with tongues of flame.

Since his youth, Elijah led a righteous lifestyle, spent time in prayer and fasting, and vehemently opposed idolatry. At that time, King Ahab ruled in the kingdom of Israel, where the prophet lived. His wife Jezebel convinced her husband to start worshipping the pagan god Baal. Idols were erected all over the country, and sacrifices were made to them.

At first, Elijah tried to convince Ahab to return to the true faith, but he did not heed his words. Then the prophet sent a drought and famine upon the kingdom, which lasted for three years. In the third year, the saint came to the governor and offered to build two altars: one to the one God, the other to Baal. On whom the heavenly fire descends, people will worship him.

Saint Elijah's Day: the true story and miracles of the saint

Fame, miracles, predictions, icons and temples of Elijah

Ahab agreed, and two altars were built on Mount Carmel. No matter how hard the priests of Baal tried, their offering remained untouched, and the divine fire descended on the sacrifice of Elijah. After that, the priests were killed, the long-awaited rain fell on the earth, and the people found true faith. However, Jezebel vowed to take revenge on the saint, and he had to retreat into the desert to escape her wrath.

During his lifetime, the prophet performed many miracles. He resurrected the child of the widow of Sarepta, who had died suddenly of an illness, and spoke to God himself with his face covered. It is also believed that Elijah ascended to heaven alive, he was taken away by a chariot of fire.

Traditions of the national holiday Elijah's Day on August 2

In Russia, the cult of the prophet Elijah arose before Prince Vladimir made Christianity the official religion. He was revered as the lord of fire, water and lightning and was often identified with the pagan god Perun. They prayed to the saint for a good harvest, a successful marriage and healthy children.

On Elijah's Day, it was customary to arrange a noisy feast, which was attended by all the villagers, and sometimes guests from other settlements. Bread made from the flour of the new harvest was always present on the table. After that, the festivities began with games, songs and round dances.

The Orthodox Church celebrates St. Elijah's Day with a procession, and believers visit churches. It is believed that on this day it is necessary to help the poor and welcome any guest, as well as invite friends and family to a festive dinner.

Why can't you swim on Elijah's Day

One of the main prohibitions on Elijah's Day concerns swimming in rivers and lakes. He is not affiliated with the Christian Church and is exclusively of folk origin.

According to beliefs, on a holiday, the prophet pursues evil spirits and strikes them with lightning, so they try to hide in reservoirs and can drag a swimmer to the bottom. If this does not happen, the person will soon get sick.

However, there is a more prosaic explanation for this limitation. In Russia, Elijah's Day was considered the beginning of autumn. After the holiday, the days became shorter and the evenings colder. In the north of the country, reservoirs began to cool down, and in the south— they began to bloom. Swimming in such water could be dangerous to health, so swimming was postponed until the next season.

What can and cannot be done on Elijah's Day on August 2nd

There are a number of other prohibitions on Elijah's Day, which were followed in Russia. For example, it was forbidden to catch fish, as it could contain an evil spirit hiding from the prophet.

For a similar reason, animals were not allowed into the house from the street on this day and pets were not allowed outside. It was believed that evil spirits could enter a dwelling in the form of a beast and attract lightning to the house. During the holiday, the cattle were not taken outside so that they would not be affected by the thunderstorm.

It was also forbidden to work on Elijah's Day, including in the field. People believed that the terrible prophet would not tolerate believers being distracted by worldly affairs on his holiday. However, the restriction did not apply to beekeeping and herb harvesting.

On Elijah's Day, it is allowed to arrange noisy feasts, receive guests and go to church. This date is also considered favorable for a wedding — a union concluded on a holiday will be strong and prosperous.

Folk signs of August 2

On Elijah's Day, people always waited for rain and thunderstorms, which were the main attributes of the prophet. The thunder was used to determine what kind of weather would set after. A dull thunder promised light precipitation, and a sonorous thunder promised showers. There is also a belief that if a person is caught in the rain on a holiday, he will have good health all year round.

Earlier, Izvestia told how to pray to the prophet Elijah and how he helps believers.