Orthodox Icon of Elijah Hears the Voice of God

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July 20th
Troparion (Tone 4)
O angelic of body, pillar of the prophets, and their cornerstone, the forerunner of the Second Coming of Christ, the venerable and glorious Elijah, you sent grace from on high to Elisha to dispel sicknesses and purify lepers. Wherefore, he overflows with healing to those who honor him.

1 Kings 19:9-13: And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; 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. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

This icon is a new prototype that incorporates all of the action of the text above. This event happened just after Prophet Elijah was used by God to confront and defeat the prophets of Baal, calling down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice and the stone altar. After that great high came this great low. God came to him and showed him that He was not always in the great events. He came to Elijah in the "still small voice" to personally encourage his faith. God went on to instruct Elijah to find and recruit Elisha as his assistant and gave him a strategy to find and unite the believers. The real turning point in preserving the Faith was not in the humiliation of Jezebel and her prophets of Baal, but in this quiet conversation between God and his chosen man.

Psalm 46 (45 LXX)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

This icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. It is from St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church, Souderton, PA. The original is about 9'6" x 8'8".

Order #phn-84