Prophet Elijah the Prophet, the Tishbite

The Holy Prophet Elijah came from the town of Tishbe in the land of Gilead (according to tradition, of the tribe of Levi, though other accounts say Naphtali); he prophesied in the Kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Kings Ahab and Ahaziah, in the 9th century BC.

After a three-year drought, sent down at his word because of the people's fall into idolatry, he arranged a contest on Mount Carmel with 450 prophets of Baal: whichever god answered with fire from heaven would be shown the true God. The sacrifice of Baal's prophets went unanswered; Elijah's sacrifice, though doused with water, was consumed by fire descending from heaven — after which the prophet ordered the prophets of Baal executed at the Kishon brook, and rain returned to the land (1 Kings 18).

Fleeing the threats of Queen Jezebel, he walked 40 days to Mount Horeb (Sinai), where the Lord appeared to him not in a storm, an earthquake, or a fire, but in "a still small voice" (1 Kings 19) — an episode of the greatest significance for apophatic (mystical) theology.

He called the youth Elisha to prophetic service from behind the plow, casting his mantle upon him (1 Kings 19:19-21); Elisha became his disciple and successor.

He was taken up alive into heaven in a fiery chariot with fiery horses in a whirlwind, while walking with Elisha near the Jordan — one of two Old Testament righteous ones (along with Enoch) of whom Scripture testifies that they were taken to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2:1-12). Elisha received his mantle and a double portion of his prophetic spirit.

He appeared together with Moses on Mount Tabor during the Transfiguration of the Lord, conversing with Christ (Matthew 17, Mark 9, Luke 9) — representing the Prophets (while Moses represents the Law), bearing witness to Christ's divinity.

According to Orthodox tradition, the Prophet Elijah (together with Enoch) will appear again before the Second Coming as one of the "two witnesses" mentioned in the Revelation of John (chapter 11).

The feast of the Prophet Elijah (July 20/August 2, "Elijah's Day") is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the folk tradition of Orthodox Slavs, Greeks, and Georgians alike.