He entered the mountain fort of God, Horeb, where he remained for forty days and nights. Upon entering a cave to dwell there, he received a word from the Lord (1 Kings 19:8-9). In numerous churches, as is customary, the memory of the Holy Prophet Elijah is honored following a specific Church tradition. Devout individuals gather in the primary church of their region and, through the offering of sacred symbols of faith and the singing of spiritual hymns, proceed to another church dedicated to the memory of the Prophet, where a solemn Divine Service is then performed. What was the intention of our wise Fathers in establishing this practice, which is not observed for many other Saints or feasts of the Lord? To reason this out, we must recall the general practice of the Holy Church: to provide tangible images and representations of what is spiritually remembered or contemplated during her feasts. For instance, while commemorating the Baptism of the Lord, she brings one to the river and prays over the waters; during the celebration of the Lord's Resurrection, she awakens the faithful at midnight, illuminating the church with the bright light of lamps to depict the eternal life of high Jerusalem, where the Lamb serves as the light, needing no sun, where there shall be no night. Following this principle, our ceremonial walk on the feast of Elijah the Prophet serves, for our edification, as a miniature representation of many of his journeys, truly arduous paths filled with trials for the love of God and holiness, especially reminiscent of his miraculous journey to Mount Horeb, where he encountered the divine presence.
Let us reflect with reverence on Elijah's journey to the stream of Horeb during a time of drought and famine, and marvel at how he was miraculously fed by ravens; his journey to Sarepta, where he witnessed the constant supply of flour and oil, and the resurrection of the widow's son; his return to Israel and the miracles of rain descending upon the earth, and of fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice; his flight from Ahab to Jezreel, possibly hoping to lead the wicked Jezebel back to God through the miracles performed; and his return, not out of a love for earthly life, but to avoid giving in to evil over piety. Finally, the significant journey prepared by an angel, who fed Elijah twice, indicates the fasting man’s need for sustenance for such a formidable trek of forty days and nights without food, which ultimately rewarded him with communion with God and a joy beyond our comprehension: "the Lord is there" (1 Kings 19:12).
I will not delve into Elijah’s final journey from Gilgal to Bethel, then on to Jericho, and across the Jordan, where he sought to conceal the glory of his ascent from Elisha. With our earthly understanding, we cannot keep pace with one who hastens to heaven. The question of Elijah’s journey to Horeb prompts further reflection, akin to our current procession: what was the purpose of sending him on such an extraordinary and distant journey? If one were to inquire why he traveled to the brook of Cherith during a time of drought, the answer is simple: there would still be water, a vital sustenance. Why to Sarepta? Because there was no water at Cherith, yet Sarepta housed a faithful woman, chosen by God to be miraculously sustained through famine to support His servant. But what was the aim of his journey to Horeb? Was it for divine conversation or revelation? Did not God communicate with Elijah both at Horeb and Sarepta? Surely the Almighty could reveal Himself in the wilderness of Judea or Arabia.
Let us not be accused of curiosity or irreverence regarding such matters. While it is true that God can engage with believers anywhere, it does not imply that Elijah’s journey to Horeb was unnecessary, as God commanded him to go there—a command that can only be purposeful. God’s readiness to commune with man is inherent; however, man often requires preparation depending on his spiritual state. "Sanctify yourselves today and tomorrow: and be ready on the third day" (Ex. 19:10-11), illustrates God's preparation of the Israelites for the monumental revelation at Mount Sinai. "Prepare your heart and do not be troubled in keeping His commandments" (Psalm 118:60) signifies that if such preparation is essential for performing God's commands effectively, how much more is it needed for receiving gracious communications and spiritual revelations? Elijah’s unique communion with God entailed a corresponding degree of preparation, exemplified in his arduous journey of forty days.
Elijah’s path was earthly, yet directed towards the divine; he traversed the physical, but sought the spiritual; he walked upon the earth, yet aimed for heaven. Each hour, he moved further away from the chaotic madness of Ahab, the relentless evil of Jezebel, the deceit of false prophets, and the tragic blindness of the Israelites. Like the moon emerging from dense clouds, Elijah's soul was liberated from the dark shadows of worldly vanities, lifting him into a state of peace, purity, and increasing spiritual clarity. Though he had previously stood before God in spirit, to enter into a transcendent communion required profound purification of the flesh, so that the fragile human vessel would endure the touch of divine power. An impaired eye cannot endure bright light, just as a sin-laden person cannot perceive God's grace; thus, entering the divine presence necessitates cleansing of the heart and spirit. Just as Moses’s encounter with God at Sinai involved a lengthy fast, so too did Elijah's communion at Horeb require a significant journey during which his sustenance was solely focused on prayer and reflection upon God.
Elijah ascended to heaven and God; though he may not have known what was to unfold at Horeb, as he approached this holy mountain, which shares its base with Sinai, he surely recalled the glorious manifestation that occurred there. This remembrance did not only draw him closer to the tangible mountain of fire, cloud, and storm, but also to the very Speaker of the heavens: "His voice then shook the earth" (Heb. 12:18-19). While Elijah's feet remained grounded, his spirit soared towards heaven, prepared for divine communion with God. Thus, dear brethren, we behold the profound journey of Elijah; such is the holy feast he observed, devoid of worldly distractions, devoted entirely to God. When led through the sacred procession from one holy site to another for fervent prayer and reverent service, consider it the Church's effort to ready you for communion with God, striving for purity and closeness. Each ordinary excursion from your home to the Lord’s temple should serve as a diligent preparation for such communion. Preferably, let your life mirror that of the Saints, continuously traversing the path guided and protected by the Cross of Christ, transitioning from flesh to spirit, from earth to heaven, from the world to God.
Let your rest not solely signify a break from laborious tasks but a release from earthly indulgences and vanity. Guard your mind, heart, and senses from all distractions that entice and disturb, enabling you to receive God within your thoughts and feelings through contemplation, desire, spiritual teachings, pure prayer, and good works. What can be said of those who approach the Church's feast without reverence, thought, or attention, treating sacred spaces as mere venues for earthly amusement? May God protect them from the feasts of Ahab and Jezebel, ensuring they partake in the true celebration of the Prophet Elijah. O generous giver of spiritual gifts, who graciously granted Elisha’s humble request to receive a double portion, do not deny us who earnestly plead: intercede before our God and yours for an outpouring of grace upon those who honor your day through prayer and fasting, or through acts of charity like the widow you encountered. For those who are yet to grasp the depth and holiness of your feast, may you send down upon them not consuming wrath, but enlightening grace from heaven, guiding them towards the path of truth and righteousness into the sacred mountain of God, where they may dwell eternally. Amen.
Why did Elijah fast for forty days on his journey to Horeb? This fast may appear to be an unplanned response to necessity as the prophet traversed desolate regions. However, the angel reveals that this was not mere chance but part of a divine arrangement. The prophet seemingly had little concern for food; after traveling ‘a day's journey into the wilderness’ (1 Kings 19:4), he laid down to rest under a shrub. Then the angel of the Lord touched him and instructed, ‘Arise, eat and drink’. Elijah consumed the barley unleavened bread and water provided by the angel, a meager amount for someone fasting, and felt the need to resume his distanced slumber: ‘He went back to sleep. And behold, the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, Arise, eat and drink, for the journey is long ahead of you’. What was the reason for awakening the prophet, who had just fallen asleep post-meal, and compelling him to eat once more? If the angel's priority was his nourishment, he could have visited him later in a more opportune moment during his journey with barley unleavened bread and water, and possibly on several occasions. It is evident that the angel did not provide a banquet but mandated fasting. He instructed, ‘Comfort yourself with additional sustenance, for you will be without food for an extended time; you have a journey of forty days and a corresponding fast of forty days’. Where did this forty-day journey and forty-day fast lead Elijah? To the extraordinary revelation of God, similarly to what occurred with Moses. Thus, fasting through Elijah, presents not merely as the prophet's personal endeavor but also as a response to divine direction. Beloved, in heaven, there is an understanding of purpose and command. It seems there is a particular significance to fasting when approaching God. This necessity can be somewhat grasped. If, as it is stated, ‘the corruptible body burdens the soul’ (Proverbs 9:15), consider when the body is better suited to ascend towards the heavenly and connect with the Divine: when the ‘corruptible and heavy thing’ accumulates further weight and corruption, or when it is lightened and refined through judicious deprivation?
