Orthodox calendar - Elijah's Day (Memory Day of the Holy Prophet Elijah)

Elijah's Day falls on August 2 according to the new style This is a Christian holiday with pagan roots However, followers of Judaism also have a special day glorifying the prophet Elijah (Elijah) Muslims also reverence the Messenger of Allah, Ilyas The prophet Elijah, capable of raising the dead, hid on Mount Carmel from his idolatrous pursuers, he constantly prayed and fasted The peoples who lived at the foot of the mountain immediately recognized his power over the rain Even in the Old Testament there are references to how, with the help of fervent prayer, he could stop the rain or, conversely, cause it Thus, this saint was especially revered by peasants, whose welfare depended on the amount of rainfall The holiday in honor of the mighty elder was first celebrated in Byzantium In the era of dual faith, the image of the prophet Elijah united with the image of the god Perun That is why he, who appeared much later, was considered formidable and merciless Perun was the son of Svarog and the defender of the world; among the pagan Slavs he was considered the lord of the thunderstorm Perun, and then Elijah the prophet, according to legend, rides across the sky in his chariot, striking his enemies with lightning The thunder that frightens all living things is the sound of his horses' hooves Evil spirits, hiding from Elijah’s fiery arrows, turn into different animals, so animals should not be allowed into the house on this day Among the Russian people, Elijah the Prophet absorbed the features of Ilya Muromets: he also sat motionless for 33 years and possessed the rarest strength The Slavs begin to prepare for the holiday in advance: the day before they bake special cookies from new flour The house is cleaned and all shiny surfaces are covered with holiday towels On this day, people do not drive their livestock out to pasture for fear of lightning A bowl of grain is left at the gate It is forbidden to work in the house and in the field for Ilyushechka: he can severely punish you However, you can work hard in the apiary: church candles are made from wax It is believed that after Ilyin’s day, summer ends, so swimming in reservoirs is no longer advisable in order to avoid catching a cold There is also a ban on loud quarrels, otherwise you can get struck by lightning By this day, haymaking is completed and preparations are made for harvesting Hunters open the hunting season If it rains on Elijah’s day, the rainwater is collected and stored, as it is considered healing, capable of curing eye diseases and protecting from the evil eye The Day of the Prophet Elijah began to be honored as an Orthodox holiday in the 17th century, and a church in his honor was built in Kyiv even before the adoption of Christianity On this day, it is customary for Orthodox Christians to attend services and pray for a rich harvest and peace in the family Some bring seeds to church for consecration Housewives fumigate their homes with incense to protect themselves from lightning strikes for a year After a hearty meal together, consisting of a freshly slaughtered bull or ram, and new potatoes, people go on festivities with songs, round dances and dances In some areas fairs or religious processions are organized On Elijah's Day, you need to please the poor with alms or treats In modern Russia, the prophet Elijah is considered the patron saint of the Airborne Forces The image of this fearless prophet, zealously defending the Christian faith, fits perfectly with the defenders of his native land - the paratroopers