The name day of Elias and Eliana is celebrated on 20 July, the Greek Orthodox Church’s commemoration of Prophet Elias.
The Holy Prophet Elias was one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament.
Born in Tishba of Gilead into the Levite tribe 900 years before Christ.
Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus gives the following account of his birth. “When Elijah was born, his father Sobach saw in a vision angels of God around him. They swaddled him with fire and fed him with flames.”
Elias means the Lord’s strength, and defined the life of the prophet who dedicated himself to One God.
Settling in the wilderness, he spent his whole life fasting, meditating and praying. Called to prophetic service, he came into conflict with the Israelite king Ahab, the prophet became a fiery zealot of true faith and piety.
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During the time of the prophet, the Israelites had turned their back on the faith of their Fathers and began to worship pagan idols once again. These were introduced by impious king Jereboam. Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, was devoted to idol worship. She persuaded her husband to build a temple to the pagan god Baal, which led many Israelites away from the worship of the true God.
The prophet denounced King Agab. As punishment, Prophet Elias declared there would be no rain nor dew upon the ground and the droubt would cease only by his prayer. Indeed, the word of Elijah was a torch (Eccles. 48: 1) The heavens were closed for three and a half years, and there was drought and famine throughout all the land.
He returned to the king after the end of three years of drought. At the end of tribulations, King Ahab acknowledged his error, and when his wife threatened to kill the prophet, Elias fled into the Kingdom of Judea.