ORTHODOX HOLY LAND

The Greek Orthodox Monastery of Prophet Elijah or Mar Elijah is said to be the place where Prophet Elijah was woken his sleep to flee for an impending danger. There are few traditions surrounding the monastery.

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One of the traditions is that there was a man planting chickpeas and Christ walked passed and asked the man what he was planting. He sarcastically answered rocks and Christ responded that from now on all he will reap is rocks. So from then on whenever the man would try and take the chickpeas they would turn to rocks.

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Inside the church are chains and tradition says that there was a monk who used the chains in his ascetic practices.

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The final tradition is that the Virgin Mary rested in that place on her way with the baby Jesus and Jospeh to Egypt.

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Ahab told his wife Jezebel what Elijah had done and that he had killed the prophets. 2 She sent a message to Elijah: “You killed my prophets. Now I’m going to kill you! I pray that the gods will punish me even more severely if I don’t do it by this time tomorrow.” 3 Elijah was afraid when he got her message, and he ran to the town of Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there, 4 then walked another whole day into the desert. Finally, he came to a large bush and sat down in its shade. He begged the Lord, “I’ve had enough. Just let me die! I’m no better off than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down in the shade and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel woke him up and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 Elijah looked around, and by his head was a jar of water and some baked bread. He sat up, ate and drank, then lay down and went back to sleep. 7 Soon the Lord’s angel woke him again and said, “Get up and eat, or else you’ll get too tired to travel.” 8 So Elijah sat up and ate and drank. The food and water made him strong enough to walk forty more days. At last, he reached Mount Sinai,the mountain of God, 9 and he spent the night there in a cave.
1 Kings 19:1-9

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Map Link: HERE

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