Who was the Prophet Elijah and why does he matter?

All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ “”I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.

Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. (Lk. 4: 22-30)

Who was this Elijah?

He is one of the most unique and dramatic characters of Bible history. Rugged in appearance and dress, he is a stereotype of St. John the Baptist. He lived in the 9th century before Christ and is of unknown parentage.

We first hear of him when he appeared before Ahab, the 7th king of Israel. Under the influence of his wife, Isabella, Ahab had forgotten about the true God and has returned to paganism. Elijah went to Ahab and told him that he was doing wrong and prophesied that a drought was coming. They became very angry at him and Elijah had to flee for his life. He found refuge in the mountains and was brought food by the eagles.

The drought lasting three years and six months. During this period, many dramatic events took place in Elijah’s life. Read from 1 King 17 to 2 King for accounts of a divine supply of food for a widow at Zarepath, the bringing to life of her son, the fiery test with the prophets of Baal, giving of his mantle to Elisha, the calling down of fire upon two companies of soldiers who were sent from Samaria to capture him, the dividing of the Jordan River so that he and Elisha could cross on the dry land and lastly, and which incident is most depicted in Orthodox iconography; a chariot of fire which appears and Elijah is taken up into heaven by a whirlwind.

We next read of Elijah in Matthew 17:3 when he appears with Moses at the Transfiguration of Christ and talks with Him.

The readings for the day on which Elijah is remembered July 20 contain references to him. The Epistle reading is from James 5:10-20. We are instructed to take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as examples. Here Elijah is mentioned and how prayer is answered. Then we are instructed to pray for the sick. And the prayer of faith shall heal the sick (James 5:15). The Gospel reading is from St. Luke 4:22-26, 28- 30.

At Vespers a beautiful prayer is addressed to Elijah: “O Prophet which foretold the coming of Christ, you are forever in the presence of God’s glory always watching over the sick. Since you are serving God’s majesty, always blessing and always glorified, obtain for us healing and the forgiveness of sins, now and forever. Amen.”

Many churches built on hills or on mountaintops are dedicated to him because of the time he spent in exile on mountain and was furnished food by eagles. Also his appearance at the Transfiguration on the mountain with Christ adds to his identification with mountains.

All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ “”I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.

Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. (Lk. 4: 22-30).