Feast of Prophet Elisha celebrated at the Monastery in Jericho (VIDEO+PHOTOS)

On Saturday, 27 June 2026, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of the holy Prophet Elisha at the Monastery dedicated to his name in Jericho, where the sycamore tree of Zacchaeus is also situated.

On this day of the Prophet Elisha’s commemoration, the Church recalls that the Prophet Elisha was the son of Shaphat, from the town of Abel-meholah in the land of Manasseh, and a farmer by occupation.

Around 909 BC, the Prophet Elijah, having received a command from God, anointed Elisha to succeed him as prophet while he was ploughing the land with twelve yoke of oxen. Elisha slaughtered the oxen and gave them as food to the people; then, leaving his parents behind, he followed the Prophet Elijah until his Ascension in the fiery chariot.

From that chariot, Elijah cast his mantle upon him; with it, Elisha walked across the River Jordan and received a double portion of his master’s grace. His wondrous deeds are recorded in the Fourth Book of the Kingdoms of the Old Testament. He departed this life, full of days, around 830 BC, and was buried in Samaria.

In his honour, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem presided over the Divine Liturgy at the above-mentioned Holy…