Holy Prophet Elias Elijah

Holy Prophet Elias Elijah Feast Day and Greek Name Day

Holy Prophet Elias Elijah is honored in the Orthodox Christian Church as one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament who defended the worship of the one true God. His feast day is celebrated on July 20, and on this day people named Elias, Ilias, Elijah, Ilia, Elia, and Lias, among other variations, celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Was Prophet Elias

Prophet Elias, known in English as Elijah, lived during the 9th century BC in the northern Kingdom of Israel. He was a powerful prophet who spoke against idolatry and called the people to return to the worship of God.

He is remembered for confronting King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who had promoted the worship of the pagan god Baal.

Defender of the Faith

One of the most famous events in the life of Prophet Elias was the confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. According to the biblical account, Elias prayed to God and fire descended from heaven, proving the power of the true God.

Through this event, he called the people of Israel to abandon idolatry and return to faithful worship.

Taken Up to Heaven

Unlike many other prophets, Prophet Elias did not die a natural death. According to the Old Testament, he was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire.

Because of this, he is remembered as one of the most powerful prophetic figures in the Bible and is honored widely in both Orthodox and Christian traditions.

Greek Name Day for Elias

Because Holy Prophet Elias Elijah is commemorated on July 20, this date is also the Greek name day for:

Elias

Ilias

Elijah

Ilia

Elia

Lias

In Greek culture, celebrating a name day is often just as important as celebrating a birthday. Friends and family commonly offer well wishes or visits to honor the person whose name is being celebrated.

When Prophet Elias Is Celebrated

The feast day of Holy Prophet Elias Elijah is observed each year on July 20 in the Greek Orthodox Church. He is remembered for defending the worship of God, confronting idolatry, and serving as one of the most powerful prophetic voices in biblical history.