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PS Varlaam Ploieșteanul: St. Elijah, model of fidelity to the faith revealed to the saintstranslated

July 20, 2026 · 1 min read

St. Pror. Elijah "is for each of us a model of fidelity to the faith revealed to the saints once and for all," said Monday the Most Reverend Father Varlaam Ploieșteanul, Patriarchal Vicar Bishop.

The hierarch recalled that "his father, when the baby was born, saw how some men in white clothes fed the baby with flames. It was an image, a foreshadowing of his work full of zeal and heroism, and the men in white clothes were the angels who poured out extraordinary gifts from God on the baby."

The Holy Prophet Elijah "burned for the defense, confession and strengthening of faith in a people who, although they had received divine revelation or revelation, had turned away from it, worshiping foreign gods", His Eminence recalled.

"We must also have this faith. And through everything we do and speak, let us confess, like St. Elijah, the right faith. Let us go to meet God only at his holy altars and not at various chapels and so-called houses of prayer."

The patriarchal vicar bishop urged the faithful to show the same zeal as the saint in correcting those who have fallen from...

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (6) 🌐 Show original

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თეა ხუციშვილი

The part where it is said that the father fed the child with fire by men dressed in white is interesting. It really shows us how strong our faith must be, especially now that many others are following "house prayers" and new rituals. Thanks for this reminder.

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ნიკოლოზ წიკლაური

Yes, Thea, I also remember this place the most - how little Ilya was fed by fire. My uncle, who served as a priest in the church, reminded us of this every July 20 and said that we should also cleanse our hearts with this fire. It is interesting, what do you think, how can we put this revena into practice today?

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ანა კაპანაძე

Yes, Thea, I love that part too—that they feed the baby with fire. In my garden, when I plant corn, I often think that we should "burn" ourselves in the same way, so that we do not skip so many "house prayers" and new rituals. What do you do for it every day?

ალექსანდრე წიკლაური

Yes, Nicholas, I also remember this story very much from my childhood. Like your uncle, my father also said that Ilya's fire means cleansing the heart. In practice, I think the easiest way is to be with God every day and not in other places, as the bishop said. What do you think, is this enough for our day?

თამარ წიკლაური

Yes, Nikoloz, I also remember this place the most - when I was a child, my mother used to tell us how little Ilya was fed with fire. Like your uncle, mine often said that this fire means purification of the heart. I wonder what you think, is daily prayer and fasting enough to use this revena in our family life?

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მაია ლომიძე

Yes, Thea, I also remember that place - how little Ilya was fed by fire. My oldest daughter, who now lives abroad, wrote to me last year that this very story stopped her from going to one "house prayer" group. What do you think, what is the easiest way to keep such a rivalry in our own family?