My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
ON THE 14th OF JUNE, OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH COMMEMORATES
THE HOLY PROPHET ELISSAIOS (ELISHA).
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Prophet. Fourth Tone
The incarnate Angel, and the Prophets’ summit and boast, the second forerunner of
the coming of Christ our God, Elias, the glorious, from above sent down his grace
upon Elisseus; he doth cast out sickness and doth also cleanse lepers; and unto all
that honor him, he poureth forth streams of cures.
Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone
A PROPHET of God didst thou become when worthily thou hadst been
vouchsafed a double portion of God’s grace as Elias’ true companion,
O Elisseus, divinely-blest; and with him, thou unceasingly entreatest
Christ God on behalf of us all.
Prophet ELISSAIOS (ELISHA), the holy Prophet and namesake of "God is salvation." Elissaios was born in Galgala (Gilgal) which is eastward of Jericho. Elissaos (Elisha) was from the town of Abel-me-oul and the son of Sahat and had been a husbandman. In the year 908 B.C., at God’s command, the Prophet Elias anointed him to be Prophet in his stead. At Galgala there was a golden calf that was paid homage to by the benighted. On the birth of Elissaios, the demons inhabiting the idol were divinely compelled to cry out with such a great sound that it was heard in Jerusalem. The high priest of the Temple of God, also, contemplated the two stones that he wore on his breast. One stone was named Manifestation and the other Truth. He, moved by the Spirit of God, prophesied: "Today there is born a Prophet for Jerusalem who shall destroy the grave images and shatter the molten idols.
The lad grew and was strengthened in spirit until the day o his showing forth to Israel. Now Elissaios was plowing with oxen. There were twelve oxen under the yoke. The mighty Prophet Elias passed by Elissaios and cast his mantle upon him. Elissaios left the cattle, and he ran after Prophet Elias and said, "I will kiss my father, and follow after thee." And Prophet Elias said, "Return, for I have done a work for thee." Elisssaios, thereupon, returned from following him. Elissaios took a yoke of oxen. He slew the oxen and cooked them using the wooden plow and the other instruments of husbandry as firewood and gave the oxen as food to the people, and they ate. Elissaios then arose. He followed Prophet Elias, to whom he ministered.
Prefigurations of Baptism
Now it came to pass that the Lord was going to take Prophet Elias with a whirlwind, as it were, into heaven. Elias and Elissaios, thereupon, went out of Galgala, Prophet Elias said to Elissaos, "Stay here, I pray thee. For God has sent me to Bethel. Elissaios said, "As the Lord lives and thy soul lives, I will not leave thee." So the two came to Bethel in Southern Judaea. Prophet Elias and Elissaios stood together and then smote the water. The waters were divided on this side and on that side. In this manner did Prophet Elias and Elissaios pass over on dry ground. While the two men were crossing, Prophet Elias said to Elissaios, "Ask what I shall do for thee, a double portion of thy spirit upon thee." Elissaios said, "Let there be, I pray thee, a double portion of thy spirit upon me." Prophet Elias commented, "Thou hast asked a hard thing. If thou shall see me when I am taken up from thee, then shall It be so to thee; and if not, it shall not be so."
As they were going along and talking–behold!–a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, separated both of them. Prophet Elias was taken up in a whirlwind as it went into heaven. Elissaios was accounted worthy to behold this. He cried out, "Father, father, the chariot of Israel, and the horseman thereof!" After that, Elissaios saw Prophet Elias no more. Elissaios then took hold of his garments, and rent them into two pieces. But Elissaios took up the mantle of Prophet Elias, which fell from off Elias and upon himself. When Elissaios received his teacher’s mantle and the grace of his Prophetic spirit twofold, he demonstrated whose disciple he was through the miracles he wrought and through all that is related of him in the Fourth Book of Kings. Therefore, Elissaios returned. He stood upon the brink of Jordan. He took the mantle of Prophet Elias and smote the water, saying, "Where is the Lord God of Elias?" The waters then divided hither and thither, and Elissaios went over. The sons of the Prophets, those from Jericho, who were standing on the opposite side, observed Elissaios. They exclaimed, "The spirit of Elias has rested upon Elissaios." They went forth to meet Elissaios. They did obeisance (prostrated) to him to the ground.
The Holy Church chants: "The river Jordan once turned back before the mantle of Elissaios, left by Elias who had been taken up into heaven. The waters were divided, so that the stream became a dry path before him, forming a true figure of the Baptism, whereby we pass over the changeful course of life. Christ has appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters."
Prophet Elissaios (Elisha) performed many miracles and touched the lives of many. He departed full of days and was buried in Samaria about the year 839 B.C. But even after his death, God glorified him; for after the passage of a year, when some Israelites were carrying a dead man for burial and suddenly saw a band of Moabites, they cast the dead man on the grave of the Prophet. No sooner had the dead man touched the Prophet’s bones, than he came to life and stood on his feet (IV Kings 13:2-23). Mentioning this, Jesus the Son of Sirach, says, : He did wonders (miracles) in his life, and at his death, his works were marvelous" (Ecclus. 48:14). It is because of such marvels that the faithful have reverence for the holy relics of the Saints. His name means "God is savior." (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 