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Feast Day/Commemorated: July 20

The Life and Legacy of the Prophet Elias

Born into the Levite tribe 900 years before the Incarnation, the Holy Prophet Elias was a man of fiery spirit whose very birth was marked by celestial visions. His father, Sobach, reportedly saw angels swaddling the infant in flames, a precursor to a life defined by "the Lord’s strength." Elias dedicated his youth to strict asceticism in the wilderness, emerging as a zealous defender of the One True God during a dark period when King Ahab and his wife Jezebel had led Israel into the widespread worship of the pagan idol Baal.

To punish the nation’s impiety and call them to repentance, Elias declared a miraculous drought that sealed the heavens for three and a half years. During this tribulation, he was sustained by the providence of God, first fed by ravens in a cave and later by a poor widow in Sarephta, whose jars of oil and flour never emptied through his intercession. Elias’s divine authority was further solidified when he raised the widow's son from the dead, proving that his ministry held power over both nature and the grave.

The climax of his mission occurred on Mount Carmel, where Elias challenged the priests of Baal to a spiritual duel. While the pagan priests failed to summon fire for their sacrifice, Elias built an altar of twelve stones, soaked it with water, and watched as divine fire descended from heaven to consume the offering, the wood, and the water. This overwhelming display led the Israelites to proclaim "the Lord is God," resulting in the end of the drought and the temporary repentance of King Ahab.

Following a period of further persecution where he encountered God not in a great wind or earthquake, but in a "gentle breeze" on Mount Horeb, Elias was eventually taken up alive into heaven in a fiery chariot. His mantle fell to his successor, Elisha, but his role in salvation history remains active; tradition holds that he appeared at the Transfiguration and will return as a forerunner before the Second Coming of Christ. Today, he is venerated as a protector against drought and a symbol of unwavering faith in the face of spiritual decay.

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):

Theophany Works Icons are handcrafted reproductions, made with prayer and a desire for excellence. Choose from our standard mounted option on Museum Quality Paper or you may choose to upgrade to Museum Quality Matte Canvas. Both offer a rich print with saturated coloration and are finished with our high-grade UV protection sealant offering a subtle tactile texture that gives our icons a truly authentic feel & can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Additionally, each Maple-shelled panel is prepared with a painted chamfered front edge as well as a round-over on the back edge to give a shadow box effect when hung on the wall. Our Icons come standard with a sliding key-hole slot on the back which allows for balanced hanging. These beautiful American-made reproductions will be a beloved addition to any home or parish at the fraction of the cost of a hand painted icon.

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