This Monday, 20 July 2015, the Orthodox Christians celebrated Saint Elijah Tishbite the Prophet. He remained in the history of the Orthodox Church as an example of faith and courage worthy following. Several places of worship from the country and abroad celebrated their saint patron.
Today, 20 July 2015, the faithful of “Saint Elijah” parish of Techirghiol enjoyed the presence of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, with whose blessing Saturday night (18 July), the relics of Saint Efrem the New were brought from the historical chapel of “Saint Great Martyr George” of the Patriarchal Residence. The holy relics were met by His Eminence Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis, and laid in the courtyard of the church for veneration.
On the dedication day, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by a group of priests headed by Rev Archimandrite Nectarie Sofelea, exarch of the monasteries of the Archdiocese of Bucharest who brought the shrine of the holy relics delegated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
Having been at “Saint Elijah” parish of Techirghiol on the occasion of the dedication day, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania spoke about the life of the prophet.
“Saint Elijah the Prophet enjoys great veneration both in Judaism and in Christianity, and even in Islam, having been considered one of the prophets. This is why the three great monotheist religions have special veneration for Saint Elijah the Prophet. He is one of the prophets of the Old Testament who have not written their sermons or speeches addressed to the people. Saint Elijah lived and did miraculous things in the 9th century BC, at the time of king Ahab of Samaria who reigned from 874 – 853 BC”, His Beatitude said, according tro Trinitas TV.
Prophet Elijah did many miracles: he resurrected the son of the widow from Sarepta of Sydon, separated the waters of the Jordan and spoke with God at Horeb Mount
“Saint Elijah travelled and fasted for 40 days up to Horeb Mount, where he hid in a cave.
It was a great snowstorm, a hurricane, which passed over the mount, then an earthquake and a fire, but God was not present in the great snowstorm; a gentle breeze came at last and God was present in this mild wind, and Elijah covered his face because he could bear to see the presence of God with his own eyes; yet, he felt His presence in this gentle breeze of cooling blessing wind”, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church said.
Saint Elijah the Prophet was raised to heaven without passing through death
By God’s will, Saint Elijah the Prophet was raised to heaven in a fire chariot, without passing through death, His Beatitude said.
“Once, when he was with Elisei, his disciple, beyond the River Jordan, a whirlwind came and a fire chariot pulled by two fire horses, too, which took Elijah and raised him to the sky. Elijah dropped his mantle and Elisei picked it up and so he also got Elijah’s grace to continue his work as a prophet. This mantle was so full of the grace of the power of God, that disciple Elisei passed the River Jordan again and hit the water with it, the river was separated in two and he could cross the Jordan by land”, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained.
He also appeared, together with Moses, at the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in Tabor Mount
“The Gospels of the New Testament show us that during the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Moses and Elijah appeared all of a sudden speaking with Jesus in the glory of the Tabor about the future passion of Christ, because the Transfiguration took place soon before the crucifixion and resurrection of the Saviour. Why did Moses and Elijah appear together with Jesus at the Transfiguration? It was because Moses represented the law and Elijah represented all the prophets, although he did not write books, but the power of the Holy Spirit working in him was so great that he became the representative of all prophets”, the Patriarch of Romania said.
The Holy Scriptures and the tradition of the Church say that Saint Elijah will come back on the earth at the end of the age, as Forerunner of the second coming of Christ
“Saint Elijah the Prophet is called the Forerunner of the second coming of Jesus Christ, because at His first coming Prophet John the Baptist was His forerunner, but who, according to the holy books of the Holy Scriptures, was working with the power of Elijah. Thus, he had the same devotion for God, the same deep love for God and the same holy life; the fire present was the holiness of his life which was a gift of God which he did cultivate, with fasting and prayer. Therefore, he is the forerunner of the second coming of Jesus Christ, our Saviour”, His Beatitude also said.
Saint Elijah the Prophet is a great teacher of the right faith for us
“He shows us that we must not believe the crowds who deviate from the right faith. No matter how large the number of those who deviate is we must keep the right faith even if we are only a few. Once, Saint Elijah the Prophet told God: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”. And God told him: “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal”, His Beatitude said, according to Trinitas Radio station.
Fasting and prayer are stronger than any human power
We also learn from Saint Elijah to be merciful and that fasting and prayer are stronger than any human power.
“In hard times, we must show merciful attitude to the poor, lonely and helpless as he showed his mercy to the widow of Sarepta of Synod whose flour and oil he multiplied never to end till the rain came down again and the normal state of nature was re-established again. Then, we also learn from Saint Elijah the Prophet that fasting and prayer are stronger than any human power. Those who were holding the power in the world wanted to kill him, but he retired into the mountains, fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and prayed, and God not only saved him, but He also enabled him to feel the presence of God”, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church said.
His Beatitude mentioned that in our country, Saint Elijah is the protector of aviation too. His Beatitude has also congratulated all those of the name of the prophet or of other names derived from it.
The Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church congratulated the faithful for their presence and the parish priest for the good work done in the parish and offered the church several books recently published by the Romanian Patriarchate.
