The Prophet Elias, by Daniele da Volterra.

Elias is the Latin transliteration of the Greek name Ἠλίας, pronounced either e-lee-as in most European languages, or el-igh-es in English-speaking cultures.

It is the Greek form of Elijah, the name of an important prophet in the Hebrew Bible. Some English translations of the New Testament, including the King James Version, use this form of the name. Newer translations usually translate it as Elijah. Elias is thought to be linguistically derived from Elijah because the Hebrew suffix -yahu, rendered -iah or -jah in English is consistently replaced with -ias in Greek, as seen in other names such as Isaiah/Esaias and Jeremiah/Jeremias.

Elias may also be an ancient Greek name related to Helios (see below).

Elias is also an oratorio about the prophet Elijah, composed by Felix Mendelssohn.

Liturgical commemorations

Elias on Mount Horeb, Greek Orthodox icon.

Since the Eastern Churches use the Septuagint as their official version of the Old Testament, Elias is the form of the prophet's name used among most members of the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite.

The feast day of saint Elias falls on July 20 of the Orthodox liturgical calendar (for those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar, July 20 currently falls on August 2 of the modern Gregorian Calendar). Elias is also commemorated, together with all of the righteous persons of the Old Testament, on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers (the Sunday before the Nativity of the Lord).

Elias with pagan origins

The name Elias has links and is likely to also be derived from the pagan Greek name Helios/Elios, spelt Ήλιος in Greek, and which literally means "sun".

It is known that the name existed for males in ancient Greece.^[1] At this time, the cult worshipping the sun God Helios was well established by all Greeks, despite being eventually replaced by Apollo. This implies the ancient name was derived from the god. Interestingly, there is evidence suggesting Helios, was also worshipped by the ancient Jews.^[2] However it would be pure speculation that the Greek name influenced the Hebrew Elijah in any way.

After Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, it is alleged that some pagan customs were incorporated into the new religion. This was to ensure an easy transition into the new religion by subjects of the empire, which included modern day Greece. Aspects of Helios's imagery were incorporated into the religion, as well as the name.

Russian icon of Elias being taken up into heaven in the fiery chariot, 16th century (Pskov museum).

One telling piece of evidence is how in pagan times, the peaks of mountains were reserved for temples to Helios, the sun god. This was because it was the closest point to his presence. However in modern Greece, high peaks in many regions are named after Prophet Elias or προφητης Ηλιας. Alternatively one might view this as visible evidence of the new religion superseding the former, and asserting its dominance.

"Helios the sun-god became the prophet Elijah (the Greek form is Elias and, as the [...] had probably already fallen into disuse at the time of the changeover, the disguise was very thin). The name of this Hebrew prophet is now very common in Greece, but rare in Italy, where this name for Apollo was unknown. His shrine is always on mountains and hilltops where Helios, the heaven-born flaming charioteer, was worshipped. They symbolize, says the Church, Elijah's whirlwind assumption to heaven in a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire; and hundreds of lofty peaks all over the Greek world still commemorate this personification of Apollo"^[3]

Judaism is substantially older than Greek mythology; Elijah lived in Israel circa 9th century BC^[4], years before the notion of Apollo in Italy or Helios in Greece.^{[citation needed]}

Elias in Mormonism

In Latter-day Saint theology, the name-title Elias is not always synonymous with Elijah and is often used for people other than the biblical prophet. According to Joseph Smith, "The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah is to come after, holding the keys of power, building the Temple to the capstone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel, and making all things ready; then Messiah comes to His Temple, which is last of all" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 340).

People to whom the title Elias is applied in Mormonism include Noah, the angel Gabriel (considered to be the same person as Noah), Elijah, John the Baptist, John the Apostle, and an unspecified man who was a contemporary of Abraham. (See LDS Bible Dictionary s.v. Elias.)

See also

• Elijah
• Elia
• Ilia
• Eli

References

External links

• Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah Orthodox icon and synaxarion

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Elias". Image Credit.

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