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ELIJAH “WITH THE LIFE”

6-9 minuter

Here is a simply-painted Russian icon in the style of the 17th century,

apparently re-set later into a new panel — a practice not uncommon.

(Courtesy of Jacksonsauction.com)

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Any identifying inscriptions that once may have existed are now gone,
but nonetheless we can identify the type, because it is more commonly
found as a border image in icons of the Prophet Elijah “with the life,”
that is, with scenes showing incidents from his story.  That enables us to
identify the icon above as the Prophet Elijah raising/resurrecting the
widow’s son — an account found in 1 Kings 17:17-24.
We ordinarily see many icons of the “Fiery Ascension of the Prophet
Elijah” icon type, but examples showing Elijah “with the life” are not as
frequent, so that gives us a good excuse to look at one.
Here is a very detailed icon of the Yaroslavl School, painted in the year
1678 by the noted artist Semyon Spiridonov (Семён Спиридонов —
1642-1693/95), often given the added appellation Kholmogorets
(Холмогорец) because he was born in Холмогоры/Kholmogorui.  It has
26 border scenes from the life of Elijah:

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(Yaroslavl Museum of Art)

In the center we see the Prophet Elijah standing with face turned up to
the left, where we see Lord Sabaoth (God the Father) in the clouds.  The
eyes of Elijah are nonetheless directed toward the viewer.  Elijah is
shown in the slightly forward-bending posture, with face almost but not
completely in profile, which I mentioned in a previous posting was
popular in icons of the 17th century.

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Bordering that central image all around is a Vyaz text in gold letters,
beginning at upper left: it is read left to right across the top, then top to
bottom down the right side, then top to bottom down the left side, and
finally left to right across the bottom.  It is — with slight variations and
omissions — the text I have placed between each segment here:
Top:

Во плота ангел, пророков основание, вторый предтеча пришествия

Христова,
Right 1:

Илиа славный, свыше пославый Елисееви благодать недуги

отгоняти
Right 2:

и прокаженные очищати, темже и почитающим его точит

исцеления.
Left 1:

Пророче и провидче великих дел Бога нашего, Илие

Left 2:

великоимените, вещанием твоим

Bottom:

уставивый водоточныя облаки, моли о нас Единаго Человеколюбца.

Now what is all this text?  Well, it is a troparion and kontakion in praise
of the Prophet Elijah, who is commemorated in the Russian Orthodox
Church on July 20/August 2.
Here it is again in Church Slavic and an English translation:
(Troparion, tone 4)
Во плота ангел, пророков основание, вторый предтеча пришествия

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Христова, Илиа славный, свыше пославый Елисееви благодать

недуги отгоняти и прокаженные очищати, темже и почитающим
его точит исцеления.
“An angel in the flesh and cornerstone of the prophets, second
forerunner of the coming of Christ, /
Glorious Elijah sent grace from on high to Elisha, to dispel diseases
and/
to cleanse lepers. Therefore, on those who honor him he pours forth
healings.”
(Kontakion, tone 2)
Пророче и провидче великих дел Бога нашего, Илие
великоимените, вещанием твоим /уставивый водоточныя облаки,
моли о нас Единаго Человеколюбца.
“Prophet and seer of the mighty works of our God, reknowned Elijah, /
by your command you held back the water-pouring clouds; pray for us
to the only/
Lover of mankind.”
As for the border scenes, those are:
Top, left to right:

1.  A certain man predicts to Elijah’s father the birth of a son.

2.  The birth of Elijah; The angels swaddle Elijah in flames.
3.  The miracle of the appearance of the Godhead to Elijah.
4.  Elijah denounces King Ahab.

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5.  The Prophet Elijah in the wilderness.

6.  The Lord sends Elijah to Zarephath.
7.  Elijah meets the widow at Zarephath.
From this point the sequence alternates from side to side:

8.  Elijah works the miracle of the undiminishing flour and oil in the
widow’s house.

9.  Death of the widow’s son.

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10.  Miracle of the resurrection of the widow’s son by Elijah.  This is the
same scene as in the icon at the top of the page.

11. The Lord sends Elijah to Ahab with an appeal to repent; meeting of
Elijah and Obadiah.

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12.  Elijah and Obadiah reprove Ahab for the corruption of Israel.

13.  Elijah denounces the priests of Baal.

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14.  The sacrifice of the ministers of Baal.

15.  The sacrifice made by Elijah is acceptable to God.

16.  Elijah kills the priests of Baal.

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17.  Jezebel’s ambassador hands her threat to Elijah.

18.  Elijah hides in the desert and is fed by an angel.

19.  Elijah in the desert; the voice of the Lord directs him to Damascus.
Now the bottom row:

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20.  Elijah calls Elisha to prophetic ministry.

21.  Elijah denounces Ahab for the vineyard of Naboth.
22.  King Ahaziah sends messengers asking for healing in the sanctuary
of Baal.

23.  Elijah sends heavenly fire on the army of Ahaziah.

24.  Elijah predicts the death of Ahaziah.
25.  Elijah and Elisha cross the Jordan on dry land.
26.  The fiery ascension of Elijah to heaven.
If you did not abandon reading this lengthy posting out of severe
boredom long ago, I am going to inflict one last bit of information on
you.
Perhaps you noticed — if you are familiar with the Bible — that the
incident of Elijah as a newborn infant being swaddled in fire by angels is
not found anywhere in the Old Testament.  Instead, it is a from an
account by Epiphanius of Cyprus (c. 310-403), who tells that when Elijah
was born, his father — who is given the name Sobach/Sabah — saw a
vision in which the baby was swaddled in flames by angels, who also fed
him with fire.  On consulting an oracle at Jerusalem, the father was told
the vision signified that his son would dwell in light and judge Israel by
fire and sword.
Well, I thought that was the last bit of information I would include in
this posting.  But as soon as I finished it, I received an email question
from a reader asking about the meaning of the scroll inscription
commonly found in many icons of Elijah, such as this one:

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(Kirillo-Belozersky museum-reserve of history, architecture and art)

The partially abbreviated inscription is taken from 1 Kings 19:10. I have
put the portion on the scroll in bold type:
И рече Илиа: Ревнуя поревновах по Господе Бозе
Вседержители, яко оставиша Тя сынове Израилевы:
I reche Ilia: Revnuya porevnovakh po Gospode Boze
Vsederzhiteli, yako ostavisha Tya suinove Izrailevui.
“And Elijah said: ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord God
Almighty, that the sons of Israel have forsaken you.'”

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In Russian folk belief, it was wise not to offend Elijah, because he could
burn your crops by lightning or wither them by withholding rain.
Now stop reading.  Take a rest.  Have a snack.  Go for a walk.
David

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