The Holy Prophet Elijah the Tishbite

After the usual beginning, we say:

KONTAKIA and OIKOI:

Kontakion 1

You who were chosen by the Lord to turn Israel from the worship of Baal, severe reprover of lawless kings, shining with the flame of zeal for God the Almighty, with the holiness of life and of wonders, you who were taken up in the body to the heavens and will come before the second coming of Christ, we bring praise to you, prophet of God Elijah, you who have great boldness towards the Lord, deliver us from all needs and sorrows by your prayers, we who sing to you: Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Oikos 1

An angel living in the flesh you appeared, O prophet, through your zeal for God and your pure life; for while still a child, your father, Sovah, saw radiant angels speaking with you, wrapping you in fire and feeding you with flame, thus showing that your zeal is fervent for God and that the power of your words and life is like a pure light; therefore, with wonder we say to you such things as these:

• Rejoice, you who from ages past were chosen to serve for the salvation of the sons of Israel;
• Rejoice, you who from your mother’s womb were chosen herald of truth and of good worship of God;
• Rejoice, you over whom a most glorious manifestation was revealed, which amazed your father;
• Rejoice, you who from youth loved virgin purity and silence;
• Rejoice, you who hated the vanities of the world and all its joys, and wholly dedicated your soul to God;
• Rejoice, you who were enlightened by the light of divine wisdom and watered with the teaching of the fear of God from infancy;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 2

Seeing lawlessness and rebellion in Israel, most glorious prophet, you were grieved in spirit and inflamed with zeal for the glory of God, for the sons of Israel worshipped the hated idols and turned away from the True God, to Whom all the heavenly hosts with trembling sing: Alleluia!

Oikos 2

Darkening their mind with evil impulses, Ahab, the lawless king, forsaking the True God, the Almighty, and worshipping the base Baal, multiplied idolatry and lawlessness in his kingdom. But you, O prophet, as a great zealot for God, boldly confronted the king, threatening him, foretelling punishment for him and his kingdom, that for three years and six months no rain nor dew would fall, and a great famine would be over all the earth. Therefore, marveling at your zeal and your great boldness for God, with love we say to you:

• Rejoice, fearless preacher of truth and great champion of piety;
• Rejoice, you who with your zeal reprove all lawlessness;
• Rejoice, you who persuaded the long-suffering Lord not to punish the sinners utterly;
• Rejoice, you who with your word shut the heavens, and made the fruitful land barren;
• Rejoice, you who for the lawlessness of men asked a three-year famine from God;
• Rejoice, for the Most High Lord sent you to Ahab, as once Moses to Pharaoh;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 3

By the power of your prayer, most wonderful prophet, truly you shut the heavens, and it did not rain for three years and six months, and there was a great famine over all the earth, until, tormented by heat and famine, the lawless turned to the Lord, repenting and with composure singing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 3

Having ineffable good will towards you, O prophet, the Lord willed to set you apart from the lawless sons of Israel so that you would not suffer together with them from famine and thirst, and He commanded you to go to the brook Cherith, where ravens fed you, bringing you bread and meat. Therefore, we bring you these praises:

• Rejoice, you who by fasting and vigil destroyed all vanities and earthly thoughts;
• Rejoice, you who by prayers and pure thoughts raised your mind to things above;
• Rejoice, glory of patriarchs and adornment of prophets;
• Rejoice, praise of the chaste and glory of the venerable;
• Rejoice, guide of hierarchs and strength of martyrs;
• Rejoice, for you turned the sons of Israel, blinded by lawlessness and unbelief, to the path of truth;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 4

A great storm, tearing down mountains, went before when the Lord drew near to you on Horeb, O prophet; also an earthquake occurred, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a still small voice, in it the Lord appeared to You, sensing Whose nearness, you covered your face with your mantle, singing with fear and joy: Alleluia!

Oikos 4

Hearing your command, the lawless king Ahab gathered all the tribes of Israel on Mount Carmel, where the false prophets of Baal were also brought, and he himself came there. And you, zealot for the glory of God, desiring utterly to shame the hated idols and glorify the true God, commanded two altars to be prepared for sacrifice, but not to put fire on them, saying: The true God will be there, Who at our prayer will hear us, sending fire. Hearing this, the people said: Well has Elijah spoken, let it be so; and we, magnifying you, sing to you:

• Rejoice, great messenger of the heavenly King and proclaimer of His holy commandments;
• Rejoice, steadfast diamond in zeal and unshaken pillar of good worship;
• Rejoice, mighty defender of truth and unconquered warrior against the enemies of the Lord;
• Rejoice, uprooter of dishonor, planter of piety and purity;
• Rejoice, flaming zealot of the glory of God;
• Rejoice, for also in the last days of this world you will preach the True God and rebuke the accursed antichrist;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 5

The lawless queen Jezebel, plotting to extinguish you, the divinely enlightened star, burning with anger against you for the destruction of her false prophets, plotted your murder. At the same time, her heart was hardened, unwilling to believe in your wonders, O prophet, nor to know the True God, to sing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 5

All the Israelites, seeing that at your prayer, fire from the Lord came down from heaven upon your sacrifice, most glorious prophet, and it was kindled and consumed it, burning everything: the wood, the stones, and also the water, fell on their faces to the ground, crying: “Truly, the Lord God, He is the True God!” And the people believed in the True God, and they slew the false prophets. Therefore, glorifying the Almighty God, the wonderworker, to you who pleased God, we sing such things as these:

• Rejoice, you who obtained great boldness before the Ruler of all;
• Rejoice, you who by signs and wonders strengthened divine truth;
• Rejoice, you who put the deceit of demons to shame and glorified the true faith;
• Rejoice, you who enlightened the unbelievers with true knowledge of God;
• Rejoice, you who by pouring water three times on the altar revealed the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity;
• Rejoice, for all created nature submitted to you, and fire and water obeyed you, serving you;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 6

A preacher of the knowledge and worship of God you appeared, O prophet, not only in Israel, but also among the pagans, for you were sent by the Lord to Zarephath of Sidon, to a poor widow, feeding yourself and especially feeding her during the famine, through the gift of working wonders and multiplying the flour and oil in her house, for all the time of the famine. And after you prayed, breathing three times, you raised the widow’s son, singing to God, Who works wonders: Alleluia!

Oikos 6

Shining with great zeal for God Almighty, you were very grieved, O prophet, because the sons of Israel forsook the covenant, threw down His altars, and slew His prophets. The Lord, however, for your comfort, told you that not all Israel had departed from Him, but He still had seven thousand unknown servants who had not bowed the knee to Baal. For this, remembering your zeal for God, we sing to you such things as these:

• Rejoice, faithful servant and close friend of the Lord;
• Rejoice, image and praise of pious shepherds;
• Rejoice, guide of salvation and enlightener of those who lie in darkness;
• Rejoice, you who encourage the defenders of truth and strengthen them in struggles and sufferings for righteousness;
• Rejoice, you who burned like a seraphic flame for the love of God;
• Rejoice, for the Lord hearkened to you in all things, and at your prayer fulfilled everything for you;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 7

The Lord, the Lover of mankind, wishing to show His mercy to repentant sinners, after the passing of the time of famine prophesied by you, O prophet, through the word of your lips sent abundant and peaceful rain to the thirsty earth; and the sons of Israel, being vouchsafed this great mercy, with humble and thankful heart sang to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 7

A new lawlessness the dishonorable king Ahab added to his evil deeds, when he commanded the innocent Naboth to be killed and seized his vineyard. Therefore, rebuking the law-transgressing king, you prophesied to him, holy prophet, that in the place where Naboth was killed, pigs and dogs would lick his blood, and dogs would eat Jezebel, his wife, and all his house would be destroyed. Knowing that this terrible prophecy was fulfilled, we tremble, saying to you such things as these:

• Rejoice, terrible avenger of the oppressed and of the hard-hearted;
• Rejoice, strong defender of orphans and the wronged;
• Rejoice, you who punish the transgressors of the holy feasts of the Orthodox Church;
• Rejoice, you who cast down the blasphemer of the Name of God from his throne;
• Rejoice, you who with your word destroy evil thoughts as by lightning;
• Rejoice, you who knew the future as the present, and prophesied distant things as near;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 8

Wonderful and supernatural providence the Lord showed to you, O prophet, when He commanded the insatiable and wild ravens to feed you, during the famine by the brook Cherith, where you spent time in prayers and contemplation of God, singing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 8

You were fully adorned with humility, O prophet of God; therefore, the two centurions who came proudly to you with soldiers to take you before the lawless king Ahaziah, you burned with fire; but Obadiah, who fed the disciples of the prophets, who came humbly to you, you had mercy on. For this, we bring you these songs of praise:

• Rejoice, humbler and punisher of the proud, and protector and defender of the humble;
• Rejoice, you who are terror to bribe-loving judges and helper to those who judge righteously;
• Rejoice, you who are support to the faithful and overthrower of lawless enemies;
• Rejoice, you who are clothed with the breastplate of wisdom and defended by righteousness as by a shield;
• Rejoice, you who were armed with the sword of divine zeal and rose on the wings of self-control;
• Rejoice, you who were covered with faith as with a helmet of salvation and crowned with the crown of all-bright love;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 9

All human nature greatly marvels how you, most glorious prophet, walked 40 days without eating or drinking to Mount Horeb, where you were vouchsafed the radiant manifestation of God Almighty and most sweet conversation with Him, singing to Him with trembling: Alleluia!

Oikos 9

The many-speaking orators cannot sufficiently conceive nor understand, how you, the great-named one, holy Elijah, being in a human body, like us in weaknesses, were taken up in the body to heaven by the chariot and horses of fire which appeared to you. Therefore, marveling at your ascension to heaven, we glorify God, Who thus exalted you, and with composure we call upon you:

• Rejoice, you who by wonderful self-control put to death in yourself the old man;
• Rejoice, you who with the fire of divine zeal burned in yourself all material thought;
• Rejoice, you who, ascending to heaven, give joy to the human race and strengthen eternal life;
• Rejoice, you who are marked by God with honor and glory above nature and glorified more than the ancient prophets;
• Rejoice, you who were met with joy by the angelic hosts in the heavenly dwellings;
• Rejoice, for your name is honored in all the world and your zeal for God is greatly glorified;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 10

Wishing the Most Good God to save the people of Israel from the deceptions of Baal, He chose you, great prophet, as the instrument of His holy will and filled you with divine power to turn the lawless, to correct the sinners, to enlighten the darkened, and to teach all to sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 10

Be a wall of defense for us, most holy prophet, interceding much for the appeasement of the wrath of God, Who justly punishes us sinners and unworthy ones with drought, famine, with destructive winds bringing diseases, that, being delivered from needs, we may sing to you:

• Rejoice, you who by your prayers shut and open the heavens and send upon the earth, from God, abundance or lack;
• Rejoice, long-standing intercessor before God, you who send gentle rains and life-giving dew upon the parched earth;
• Rejoice, you who calm the violent waves of the seas and terrible storms and by the will of God rule over thunders and lightnings;
• Rejoice, you who stop the destructive winds and protect men and dumb animals from deadly plagues;
• Rejoice, nourisher of orphans and widows and defender of the merciful;
• Rejoice, you who cast down the persecuting blasphemers of the true faith and drive away unclean spirits from the faithful of the Lord;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 11

A song of composure we bring to you, O prophet of God, Elijah; as you received the request of Elisha, when he asked from you that the power you had might pass upon him, and ascending to heaven, you let down your mantle, which taking he divided the water, as you once divided the waters of the Jordan, inheriting the gift of God working in you, so now, cover us also with the mantle of your mercy and deliver us from all needs and sorrows, that we may sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 11

You appeared as a bright luminary in Israel, most praised prophet, shining like the angels with your life and wisdom and with the gift of working wonders, and you enlightened men with the preaching of divine truth, driving away the darkness of idol worship; therefore, praising you we magnify you, singing:

• Rejoice, bright star, shining upon all the world with your radiance;
• Rejoice, ever-burning lamp, enlightening those who sit in darkness;
• Rejoice, you who were illumined with the mind and spirit of wisdom and empowered with the spirit of understanding and strength;
• Rejoice, you who were enlightened with the spirit of knowledge and humility and watered with the fear of God;
• Rejoice, you who were adorned with the highest virtues and with wonders beyond understanding;
• Rejoice, you who fulfilled on earth the judgments of the Lord and anointed kings and prophets;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 12

Great grace you found before God, most praised prophet Elijah, for in your earthly life you prophesied and performed great wonders, and afterwards, taken up in the body to heaven, and after your supernatural ascension, you appeared on Mount Tabor where the Lord was transfigured and spoke with Him; and until today you cease not to work wonders and pour forth the riches of mercies and healings to those who zealously honor you, singing to God with faith: Alleluia!

Oikos 12

Singing your fervent zeal for God and your angelic life, as well as your great wonders and the good will of God shown for you, we bring praise to you, great prophet Elijah, the great-named one, but unable to set forth worthily the honor and glory of you, with composure we sing to you such things as these:

• Rejoice, ark of divine glory and most holy dwelling of the Holy Trinity;
• Rejoice, all-bright lampstand of the unwaning Church and sweet fragrance of the divine paradise;
• Rejoice, guide of venerable hermits, and for the chaste, director and helper;
• Rejoice, you who urge sinners to repentance and intercede for eternal life for the salvation of the whole Christian race;
• Rejoice, you who have delighted in the light of the Saints and ineffable glory and ever glorify God;
• Rejoice, for at the end of times you will show great signs and perform wonders for the strengthening of men in the true faith to confront the enemy antichrist;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

Kontakion 13

O most wonderful and most exalted prophet of God Elijah, great zealot for the glory of God, you who send upon the earth rains and drought, abundance and lack, hear this small prayer, which with piety we bring, and by your fervent intercession to the Lord God, defend us from drought, from famine, and from deadly diseases, and grant us good ordering of the air and all abundance of the earth, strengthening us in right faith and pure life, that, being delivered from eternal torments, we may be vouchsafed the blessedness of Paradise, singing to God: Alleluia! This kontakion is said three times.

Then again the first Oikos is said

An angel living in the flesh you appeared, O prophet, through your zeal for God and your pure life; for while still a child, your father, Sovah, saw radiant angels speaking with you, wrapping you in fire and feeding you with flame, thus showing that your zeal is fervent for God and that the power of your words and life is like a pure light; therefore, with wonder we say to you such things as these:

• Rejoice, you who from ages past were chosen to serve for the salvation of the sons of Israel;
• Rejoice, you who from your mother’s womb were chosen herald of truth and of good worship of God;
• Rejoice, you over whom a most glorious manifestation was revealed, which amazed your father;
• Rejoice, you who from youth loved virgin purity and silence;
• Rejoice, you who hated the vanities of the world and all its joys, and wholly dedicated your soul to God;
• Rejoice, you who were enlightened by the light of divine wisdom and watered with the teaching of the fear of God from infancy;
• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

And the first Kontakion

You who were chosen by the Lord to turn Israel from the worship of Baal, severe reprover of lawless kings, shining with the flame of zeal for God the Almighty, with the holiness of life and of wonders, you who were taken up in the body to the heavens and will come before the second coming of Christ, we bring praise to you, prophet of God Elijah, you who have great boldness towards the Lord, deliver us from all needs and sorrows by your prayers, we who sing to you:

• Rejoice, Elijah, great prophet and forerunner of the second coming of Christ!

After this is said this:

PRAYER TO THE HOLY AND GLORIOUS PROPHET OF GOD ELIJAH

Most glorious and most wonderful prophet of God Elijah, who enlightened the earth with your angelic life, with your fervent zeal towards God Almighty, with your signs and wonders, and with the great good will of God towards you, being taken up to heaven in the body in a chariot of fire; being vouchsafed to speak with God on Mount Tabor, at the time of His transfiguration, now dwelling in the dwellings of Paradise and standing before the throne of the heavenly King, hear us sinners and unworthy ones, who at this hour stand before your holy icon, and with composure flee to your intercession. Pray for us to God, the Lover of mankind, that He may give us the spirit of repentance, of deliverance from sins, and by His almighty good will help us to depart from the path of sin, guiding us to every good work; that He may strengthen us in the struggle against our lusts and passions, planting in our hearts the spirit of humility, of meekness, the spirit of love for our neighbor, of goodness, of patience, of wisdom, of zeal for the word of God and of deliverance of neighbor. Destroy by your prayers, O prophet, the evil habits of the world, which defile the Christian race through the dishonoring of the orthodox faith, of the ordinances of the Holy Church, of the commandments of the Lord, through the dishonoring of parents and rulers who rule over us, thus casting the world into the darkness of dishonor, debauchery, and perdition. Turn away from us, most glorious prophet, by your intercession to the Lord, the righteous wrath of God; defend our cities, villages, and country from drought, from famine, from sudden storms, from earthquake, from deadly diseases and plagues, from discord among brethren, from the invasion of other nations upon us, and from civil war. By your prayers, most glorious one, strengthen our pious people and help them in all their good works. Intercede, O prophet of God, for our pastors fervent zeal for God, care for the spiritual salvation of their flock, wisdom in conduct and teaching, piety and strength in temptations; grant to judges impartiality and renunciation of love of gain, justice and mercy towards the wronged; to all rulers care for their subjects, mercy and right judgment, and to the faithful obedience and submission to rulers, as well as diligent fulfillment of all their duties; that thus, in peace and piety, we may pass this age. May we be vouchsafed the communion of eternal blessings in the Kingdom of God and our Savior Jesus Christ, to Whom is due honor and worship, together with the Father without beginning and the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

PRAYER TO THE HOLY PROPHET ELIJAH IN TIME OF DROUGHT

We honor you, O prophet of God Elijah, for because of your zeal for the glory of the Lord Almighty, not being able to bear seeing the idolatry and lawlessness of the sons of Israel, you confronted the law-transgressing king Ahab, and for their punishment by prayer you asked from God a three-year famine on the land of Israel, to turn them away from worthless idols, that they might cease from lawlessness and injustices, turn to the One True God and to the fulfillment of His holy commandments. In time of famine, most wonderful one, you fed the widow of Zarephath, and her dead son you raised by prayer. After the passing of the prophesied time of famine, you gathered on Mount Carmel the Israelite people grown old in sinfulness and denial of God, and by prayer obtained fire from heaven upon your sacrifice, by this wonder turning Israel to the Lord. You put the false prophets of Baal to shame, and afterwards, by prayer, opened the heavens again and obtained much rain upon the earth, and filled the faithful in Israel with joy. To you, most blessed one of the Lord Elijah, with composure we flee, we sinners and humble ones, tormented by heat and drought: We confess that we are not worthy of the mercy and grace of God; rather, we are justly worthy of the severe threat of His wrath with all kinds of evil diseases, tribulations, and sorrow. For we have not walked in the fear of God, on the path of His commandments, but in the lusts of the wantonness of our hearts, and have committed countless sins of every kind. Our lawless deeds have darkened our mind, and we are not worthy to appear before the Lord and look to heaven. We confess that we also, like ancient Israel, have departed from the Lord our God through our lawless deeds, and if we do not worship Baal and other worthless idols, then through the slavery of passions and our lusts we serve the idol; through the passion of gluttony and lusts we serve the idol of greed and pride, the idol of vainglory and arrogance, and walk in the footsteps of opposition to God through evil habits and serve the destructive spirit of the age. We confess that for this the heaven was shut and became like brass, because our hearts were shut before mercy and true love for our neighbor. For this the earth dried up and became unfruitful, because we do not bring to our Lord the fruits of good deeds. Therefore, He gives us no rain nor dew, because we have no tears of composure and life-giving dew of thought towards God. Therefore, all grain and every herb of the field have withered, because every good thought has dried up in us. Therefore, the air has been darkened, because our mind has been darkened by evil thoughts, and our heart has been defiled by the lusts of lawlessness. We confess that we are also unworthy to pray to you, O prophet of the Lord. For you, being a man, like us in passions, by your life became like the angels and as one without flesh were taken up to heaven; but we by our shameful deeds and thoughts have made our soul like the body. You by fasting and vigil amazed angels and men, but we have become slaves to intemperance and lusts. You were zealous for the glory of God, but we depart from glorifying the Lord and our Creator and are ashamed to confess His glorious Name. You eradicated dishonor and evil habits, but we enslave ourselves to the habits of the world opposed to the Lord more than to His commandments and the ordinances of the Church. And how many sins and injustices have we sinners not committed! By our sins we have exhausted the long-suffering of the Lord. For all these things the righteous Judge has been angered against us and in His wrath has punished us. Therefore, with great boldness before God and hoping in your love for the human race, we dare to pray to you, great prophet. Be merciful to us wretched and unworthy ones, pray to the All-Good God not to be angry with us to the end, to destroy us for our lawless deeds, but to send upon the thirsty earth abundant and calm rain, and to grant us rich fruit and good ordering of the air; intercede for the mercy of the heavenly King, not for us sinners and unworthy, but for His chosen servants who have not bowed the knee to Baal of this world, for the meekness and purity of children, for the dumb animals and the birds of the air, who suffer because of our lawless deeds and perish from hunger, heat, and thirst. Obtain for us by your prayers well-pleasing to God: the spirit of repentance and humility, the spirit of meekness and self-control, of love, of patience, of the fear of God and of good worship, that thus, turning from the paths of dishonor to the right path of good deeds, we may walk in the light of the commandments of the Lord and attain the good things promised to us, blessing the without beginning God the Father, the Lover of mankind His only-begotten Son, and the Sanctifying Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.