When Ilyin's day is celebrated and what the ancient prophet is known for

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Even the most inveterate atheist and a person who has never crossed the threshold of the temple, heard about the prophet Elijah. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers often mentioned him in sayings, many signs are associated with his name. For example, in Russia, many people know that in early August, from Ilyin's day, nature is preparing to meet autumn. The night is getting longer, the water in the rivers is getting colder. What is this ancient saint known for and why is he revered by the church?

Great Prophet of the Old Testament

Ilya lived about 3 thousand years ago. We are separated by a huge temporal abyss, inaccessible and incomprehensible. This explains the complexity and ambiguity of the interpretation of the events of the life and spiritual feat of Elijah.

The Old Testament speaks of him as a deeply religious person, infinitely devoted to God. It was Elijah who predicted to the Israelites, mired in sin and worshiping idols and the god Vaah, a terrible drought that lasted more than 3 years and caused a famine that swept the whole country.

King Ahab, brought todespair of a long absence of rain, goes to Ilya. The prophet seeks to convey to the ruler the idea of the falsity of the religious ideas of his people. He invites the priests of Vaah to make a sacrifice at the same time as him and see whose offering God will accept. The Lord responded only to Elijah's prayer, burning both the altar and the calf with fire.

Many false prophets, obeying the will of demons, and after what they saw, continued to insist on their rightness. Ilya, overcome with righteous anger, along with ordinary people who were watching what was happening, executed 450 idolaters on Mount Carmel.

From the point of view of the Old Testament, where the Lord is described not only as a merciful, all-forgiving Father, but also as a formidable God punishing the wicked, the murder of priests was fully justified.

Fiery Chariot

In Christianity, there is a tradition that the recognition of merit and canonization of saints occurs only after the death of a person. In the entire centuries-old biblical history, there were only two cases when the Lord took the righteous to heaven during their lifetime.

Ilya is a saint who has not known the taste of death. The fiery chariot carried him up to God. Hieromonk Dimitry (Pershin) calls the ascension of the prophet a temporary transition to eternity.

Ilya will be in heaven until he returns to earth and starts preaching the Gospel to sinners again. It will happen at the end of time, during the reignAntichrist.

The life of a saint in a modern interpretation

To understand and reveal the personality of Elijah, priest Sergiy Begiyan, in an article describing the earthly life of the prophet, offers to look at him through the eyes of our contemporary.

Suffice it to imagine that a strangely dressed man walks the streets of the metropolis, calling everyone to repentance and threatening heavenly punishment. No, he's not mentally ill. He is a prophet. The authorities and law enforcement agencies do not like him, but they are afraid and do not touch him. The spiritual strength of this man is so great that a high-ranking official is sent to him to ask to save the country from a terrible catastrophe.

The newly appeared magicians, sorcerers and psychics, in whose abilities half of the population believes, mired in heresy, also offer their help in saving people. But the Lord remains deaf to their calls. He responds only to the quiet prayer of the righteous.

After many will believe and repent, thus soldering their souls. But only the people are weak in their faith. After a while, people will again begin to worship the golden calf and listen to false prophets. Nothing fundamentally changed since the time of Elijah.

What date is Ilyin's day celebrated in the church

In Christian denominations, the commemoration of the saint takes place at different times:

• in the Orthodox Church, Elijah's day is considered August 2;
• Catholics praise the prophet on February 16.

Both in Orthodoxy and in Catholicism, the date of celebration remains constant every year. But in the Armenian church, the Sunday following the Trinity is considered the day of Elijah. Number, onwhich holiday falls may vary.

As noted in Russia

On the day of the memory of the saint, certain restrictions and prohibitions were imposed on certain types of activities of the Slavs:

1. It was impossible to work at home and in the field. All free time should be spent in prayer.
2. Mistresses did not let their pets out of the house and did not let them back in if they accidentally ran out. It was believed that demons, fleeing the wrath of Elijah, could move into cats and dogs.
3. It was forbidden to swim in the rivers. This was explained by the fact that evil spirits hid in the reservoirs. In addition, the water in open springs became much colder with the onset of the last summer month.

On the holiday of Ilyin's day, one should have a good night's sleep, gain strength, visit the temple. In the evening they organized festivities, led round dances. Residents of neighboring villages united for a joint meal, called brotherhood.

Today, many traditions have lost their relevance and are consigned to oblivion. But modern Russians know that two holidays are celebrated on August 2: the Day of the Prophet Elijah and the Day of the Airborne Forces.

Defender of the "winged army"

The first landing of a group of 12 people was carried out near Voronezh in 1930. It happened just on Ilyin's day. What other heavenly patron could the "blue berets" choose? The ancient prophet is perfect for this role.

Elijah was merciless towards the sinners and the wicked. He was always ready to defendtheir faith and the land of Israel. On icons, the saint is often depicted with a sword in his hand in memory of how he de alt with false prophets.

The task of the paratroopers is to protect the Russian land, not to let the enemy in. They, like their heavenly intercessor, help in situations where there is no one to wait for help from. No one, except Elijah, went out against 450 priests who worshiped idols and did not return faith to people. "No one but us" is the well-known motto of the Airborne Forces. May the saint help all warriors in their great mission!

And may the prophet of God Elijah protect Russia from wars, terror and natural disasters, and save every person from temptations and delusions.