Holy Prophet Elijah the Tishbite, taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot.
The Holy Prophet Elijah the Tishbite lived in the ninth century before Christ, in the days of King Ahab of Israel. Zealous for the Lord against the worship of Baal, he shut the heavens by his prayer, was fed by ravens at the brook Cherith, raised the son of the widow of Zarephath, and called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel. He was taken up alive toward heaven in a chariot of fire, leaving his mantle to his disciple Elisha.
Elijah appeared with Moses beside Christ at the Transfiguration. In Greece his chapels crown countless mountaintops, and his feast on July 20 is kept with great devotion.
Feast day
On the New Calendar, Elijah the Prophet is commemorated on July 20. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on August 2 of the civil calendar.
Who celebrates a name day
People with these names keep their name day on this feast:
Ilias, Elias, Elia, Elijah, Ilya, Eliud, Iliana, Ilianna
Also commemorated on July 20
Abramios of Galich
Venerable, Αβραάμ του Γκάλιτς
Venerable Abramios of Galich and Chukhloma, disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
Maria Skobtsova and those with her
Saint, Μαρία Σκόμπτσοβα
Synaxis of the Russian saints who died in France: Mother Maria of Paris and her companions.
Athanasios of Brest
Hierarch, Αθανάσιος Μπρεστ
Hieromartyr Athanasios, abbot of Brest, who suffered for Orthodoxy.
Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.
The calendar, on your phone each morning
Today’s saints, whether it is a fast day, and the people in your contacts who have a name day. Free, with no ads.
