day 20

Holy and Glorious Prophet Elijah

O prophet divine, zealous for the Lord Almighty: by thy prayer thou didst shut up the heavens, saying: “Let rain and dew not descend upon the earth, save at the word of my mouth!”

Glory..., in Tone VI —

On “Lord, I have cried...,” 4 stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “Joy of the ranks of heaven...” —

Now & ever...: Theotokion —

The 20th Day of the Month of July

O prophet of God, with prayer and compassion thou dost open the heavens again, and dost richly grant rain unto a thirsting people.

Glory..., in the same tone and melody —

With the light of the divine radiance of the three-fold Sun, with purity of mind and righteous judgment didst thou denounce the ungodly king as transgressor of the law, didst shut the heavens, and didst nurture the widow and her son. Pray thou, O prophet, that our souls be saved! Twice

Now & ever...: Theotokion —

Commemoration of the Holy and Glorious Prophet Elijah

O prophet divine, thou didst nourish the widow and her son, by thy prayer increasing a handful of meal and a cruse of oil; for in accordance with the word of the Lord, the handful of meal and the cruse of oil did not diminish.

Worthily honored with the prophetic office, with the divine vision of God and with understanding, O prophet divine, thou hast prophesied things afar off as though they were near. Thou didst denounce the king as unrighteous, and didst slay the shameful priests with a knife. Entreat thou Christ God, that our souls be saved!

At Little Vespers

O prophet of God, by thy prayer didst thou call down fire from heaven, and didst compel the king to say: “Truly God is the One Who is preached by Elijah!”

The ungodly king, unable to endure thy reproof, said to thee, O prophet divine: “Art thou he who tormenteth and perverteth Israel?” And thou didst say: “Not I, O king, but it is thou and thy father’s house, in that thou hast forsaken thy God Who made thee, and hast brought in strange gods.” O Christ, through the prayers of Thy prophet, deliver us from such deception and save our souls!

O godly prophet Elijah, denouncing the king, who had acted unrighteously, for the murder of Naboth and the seizure of his vineyard, thou didst boldly say: “Inasmuch as thou hast slain a man of Israel unjustly, thus shalt thou thyself be slain as well, and the dogs shall lick thy blood, and harlots shall wash themselves in thy blood.” O Christ, through the supplications of Thy prophet and favorite, deliver us from such a threat, and save our souls, in that Thou lovest mankind!

No one who hath recourse to thee, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos, departeth from thee ashamed; for he asketh grace and receiveth a gift for his profitable petition.

At the Aposticha, these stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel: “O house of Ephrata...” —

Stichos: Moses and Aaron are among His priests, and Samuel among those who call upon His name.

Stichos: Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

O blessed Mistress, stretch forth thy holy hands to thy Son, the Creator that loveth souls, that He take pity on thy servants.