Old-style Orthodox Christians celebrate Saint Elijah

Chisinau, 2 August /MOLDPRES/ - The old-style Orthodox Christians today celebrate the Saint Prophet Elijah, described as “wonder-worker and bringing rains on the period of drought.”    

According to Church books, Saint Elijah was born in the Tesvi region from Galahaad in a family of priests, on the period when the Judeans were worshiping foreign idols during the times of Ahab emperor. They say that, after his birth, the father of Saint Elijah saw people with white clothes covering Saint Elijah in fire diapers and giving him the name, gave the small prophet to eat a flame – s symbol of his zeal for God, which burnt him up all his life.     

Legends say that Saint Elijah was a wise man, but with a quite hot-tempered character. In people’s tradition, Saint Elijah is showed as going to Heaven in a chariot of fire, thundering and hitting devils with a fire whip. They also say that Saint Elijah brings rains and can start strong storms.      

On the day of Saint Elijah, people were not working, for hail not to strike. Also, on this day, people use to go to the church to give alms from fruits and it is good to collect medicinal plants that would have “miraculous powers of healing.”

Besides Saint Elijah, another two important Christian holidays are marked this week. It is about Saint Phocas and Saint Mary Magdalene, marked on 3 and 4 August, respectively.    

They say that St. Martyr Phocas is considered the patron of navigators and he had no relation to the fire, but to water. Nevertheless, people mark this day to protect themselves from fire.   

In Saint Gospels, Saint Mary Magdalene is presented “a woman from whom seven devils were drawn,” as well as the first to bring the news of Christ’s Resurrection to the apostles.  

(Reporter L. Grubii, editor L. Alcaza)