The memory day of the prophet Elijah is always on August 2. He is considered the patron of warriors. Why and what does it take to know about a saint?.

The image of the Prophet Elijah is represented by a formidable old man, riding on a chariot of fire in the sky and mercilessly hitting sinners with thunder and lightning.

However, this saint is always generous to the righteous. It is he who carefully monitors the fulfillment of human and divine laws. The first church built in Russia was dedicated to Saint Ilya.

The future prophet was born in the city of Fesvia for 9 centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ. His father at the time of Ilya's birth had a vision in which the angels of heaven carried and fed the baby with fire. This vision became prophetic - the child grew up and became a beacon of faith.

During the lifetime of the prophet in the kingdom of Israel, Ahab rules, whose wife imposed on people the cult of Astarte and Baal. Ilya tried to put the king on the right path and did many miracles. But nothing worked, he was not even afraid of approaching the three-year drought and famine that the prophet foretold.

After three years of hunger, Ilya again tried to teach the Israelites. On Mount Carmel, he made an altar to God. Watering the firewood with water, the prophet began to pray. From heaven came fire and struck not only the victim and firewood, but also stones with water. Soon a shower began that saturated the dried earth. Amazed by the seen, the Israelites repented and again began to glorify the true God.

Christians and Jews believe that the prophet was taken alive to heaven. His disciple Elisha saw the saint ascended to heaven in a fiery chariot.

According to the church legend, the prophet Elijah will be the forerunner of the terrible second coming of Christ to earth and, taking during the preaching a bodily death, not only as a prophet, but also as a martyr, will receive in the person of saints even greater honor and glory from God.

Traditions of the celebration Celebrate the day of the memory of the prophet began in Byzantium in the 9-10 centuries. People organized performances and feasts.

In fact, Ilya came to replace Thunderer Perun, because he had the same capabilities. He was also respected, he was prayed before the battle.

That's why Ilya's Day became a holiday of soldiers, including aviators and paratroopers, and the formidable Prophet Elijah - the sentinel of heaven.

The Slavs were taken on August 2 to commemorate the soldiers who died in battle, to make sacrifices, to consecrate weapons, to conduct ritual battles.

Bans on Ilya This day it is forbidden to swim, because Ilya skates across the sky, and from a quick ride one horse lowers the horseshoe, after which the water becomes cold.

Also you can not do anything. If to carry or store hay - the prophet Ilya will burn it.

Cattle can not be driven out to pasture - wolves will bite. And even if you can avoid a dangerous encounter with predators, an angry prophet can send to the cattle and shepherd the lightning.

It strikes Elijah with his arrows and unclean force. Escaping, evil spirits become animals - cats, dogs, hares, foxes, so animals are not allowed to go home on the Ilyin day.

Signs on Ilya Since Ilya is considered to be the owner of thunderstorms and showers, many signs of this day are associated with precipitation. Rain predicts a rich harvest, and drought - fires.

Rainwater collected on 2 August has special properties. She washes away all diseases and protects from evil eye and witchcraft.

Fakty. Ictv. Ua.