Prophets

Orthodox icon of the Prophet Nathan, Προφήτης Ναθάν.

Commemorated December 17.

Prophet Nathan was an advisor to King David and King Solomon. He is mentioned in the Prayer of Absolution in the Mystery of Confession: “It was God Who pardoned David through the Prophet Nathan when he had confessed his sin....” David had committed adultery with Uriah's wife Bathsheba, and had him killed. Then he took Bathsheba as his wife. David confessed his sin to Nathan (2 Samuel 12:13) and received pardon.

Orthodox icon of Prophet Samuel, icon of 16 cent Mount Athos Monastery of Stavronikita.

Commemorated August 20.

The Prophet Samuel was the fifteenth and last of the Judges of Israel, living more than 1146 years before the Birth of Christ. He was descended from the Tribe of Levi, and was the son of Elkanah from Ramathaim-Zophim of Mount Ephraim. He was born, having been besought from the Lord through the prayers of his mother Hannah (therefore he received the name Samuel, which means besought from God ).

Even before birth, he was dedicated to God. Her song, cMy heart exults in the Lord, is the Third Ode of the Old Testament (1 Sam/1 Kings 2:1-10). When the boy reached the age of three, his mother went with him to Shiloh and in accord with her vow dedicated him to the worship of God. She gave him into the care of the High Priest Eli, who at this time was a judge over Israel.

The prophet grew in the fear of God, and at twelve years of age he had a revelation that God would punish the house of the High Priest Eli, because he did not restrain the impiety of his sons. Eli's whole family was wiped out in a single day. The prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines, having slain in battle 30,000 Israelites (among them were also the sons of the High Priest, Hophni and Phinees), gaining victory and capturing the Ark of the Covenant. Hearing this, the High Priest Eli fell backwards from his seat at the gate, and breaking his back, he died.

The wife of Phinees, upon hearing what had happened in this very hour, gave birth to a son (Ichabod) and died with the words: The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken away (1 Sam/1 Kgs 4: 22). Upon the death of Eli, Samuel became the judge of the nation of Israel. The Ark of God was returned by the Philistines on their own initiative. After returning to God, the Israelites returned to all the cities that the Philistines had taken. In his old age, the Prophet Samuel made his sons Joel and Abiah judges over Israel, but they did not follow the integrity and righteous judgment of their father, since they were motivated by greed.

Then the elders of Israel, wanting the nation of God to be like other nations (1 Sam/1 Kgs 8: 20), demanded of the Prophet Samuel that they have a king. The Prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king, but saw in this a downfall of the people, whom God Himself had governed until this time, announcing His will through His chosen saints. Resigning the position of judge, the Prophet Samuel asked the people if they consented to his continued governance, but no one stepped forward for him.

After denouncing the first king, Saul, for his disobedience to God, the Prophet Samuel anointed David as king. He had offered David asylum, saving him from the pursuit of King Saul. The Prophet Samuel died in extreme old age. His life is recorded in the Bible (1 Sam/1 Kgs; Sirach 46:13-20). In the year 406 A.D. the relics of the Prophet Samuel were transferred from Judea to Constantinople.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Prophet Samuel (3). Icon of 14 cent. Church of Protato Mount Athos.

Commemorated August 30.

Orthodox icon of Prophet Samuel (3).

Commemorated August 20th.

The Prophet Samuel was the fifteenth and last of the Judges of Israel, living more than 1146 years before the Birth of Christ. He was descended from the Tribe of Levi, and was the son of Elkanah from Ramathaim-Zophim of Mount Ephraim. He was born, having been besought from the Lord through the prayers of his mother Hannah (therefore he received the name Samuel, which means besought from God.

Even before birth, he was dedicated to God. Her song, My heart exults in the Lord, is the Third Ode of the Old Testament (1 Sam/1 Kings 2:1-10). When the boy reached the age of three, his mother went with him to Shiloh and in accord with her vow dedicated him to the worship of God. She gave him into the care of the High Priest Eli, who at this time was a judge over Israel. The prophet grew in the fear of God, and at twelve years of age he had a revelation that God would punish the house of the High Priest Eli, because he did not restrain the impiety of his sons.

Eli's whole family was wiped out in a single day. The prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines, having slain in battle 30,000 Israelites (among them were also the sons of the High Priest, Hophni and Phinees), gaining victory and capturing the Ark of the Covenant. Hearing this, the High Priest Eli fell backwards from his seat at the gate, and breaking his back, he died. The wife of Phinees, upon hearing what had happened in this very hour, gave birth to a son (Ichabod) and died with the words:

The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken away (1 Sam/1 Kgs 4: 22). Upon the death of Eli, Samuel became the judge of the nation of Israel. The Ark of God was returned by the Philistines on their own initiative. After returning to God, the Israelites returned to all the cities that the Philistines had taken. In his old age, the Prophet Samuel made his sons Joel and Abiah judges over Israel, but they did not follow the integrity and righteous judgment of their father, since they were motivated by greed.

Then the elders of Israel, wanting the nation of God to be like other nations (1 Sam/1 Kgs 8: 20), demanded of the Prophet Samuel that they have a king. The Prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king, but saw in this a downfall of the people, whom God Himself had governed until this time, announcing His will through His chosen saints. Resigning the position of judge, the Prophet Samuel asked the people if they consented to his continued governance, but no one stepped forward for him.

After denouncing the first king, Saul, for his disobedience to God, the Prophet Samuel anointed David as king. He had offered David asylum, saving him from the pursuit of King Saul. The Prophet Samuel died in extreme old age. His life is recorded in the Bible (1 Sam/1 Kgs; Sirach 46:13-20). In the year 406 A.D. the relics of the Prophet Samuel were transferred from Judea to Constantinople.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of Prophet Samuel (4).

Commemorated August 20th.

The Prophet Samuel was the fifteenth and last of the Judges of Israel, living more than 1146 years before the Birth of Christ. He was descended from the Tribe of Levi, and was the son of Elkanah from Ramathaim-Zophim of Mount Ephraim. He was born, having been besought from the Lord through the prayers of his mother Hannah (therefore he received the name Samuel, which means besought from God.

Even before birth, he was dedicated to God. Her song, My heart exults in the Lord, is the Third Ode of the Old Testament (1 Sam/1 Kings 2:1-10). When the boy reached the age of three, his mother went with him to Shiloh and in accord with her vow dedicated him to the worship of God. She gave him into the care of the High Priest Eli, who at this time was a judge over Israel. The prophet grew in the fear of God, and at twelve years of age he had a revelation that God would punish the house of the High Priest Eli, because he did not restrain the impiety of his sons.

Eli's whole family was wiped out in a single day. The prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines, having slain in battle 30,000 Israelites (among them were also the sons of the High Priest, Hophni and Phinees), gaining victory and capturing the Ark of the Covenant. Hearing this, the High Priest Eli fell backwards from his seat at the gate, and breaking his back, he died. The wife of Phinees, upon hearing what had happened in this very hour, gave birth to a son (Ichabod) and died with the words:

The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken away (1 Sam/1 Kgs 4: 22). Upon the death of Eli, Samuel became the judge of the nation of Israel. The Ark of God was returned by the Philistines on their own initiative. After returning to God, the Israelites returned to all the cities that the Philistines had taken. In his old age, the Prophet Samuel made his sons Joel and Abiah judges over Israel, but they did not follow the integrity and righteous judgment of their father, since they were motivated by greed.

Then the elders of Israel, wanting the nation of God to be like other nations (1 Sam/1 Kgs 8: 20), demanded of the Prophet Samuel that they have a king. The Prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king, but saw in this a downfall of the people, whom God Himself had governed until this time, announcing His will through His chosen saints. Resigning the position of judge, the Prophet Samuel asked the people if they consented to his continued governance, but no one stepped forward for him.

After denouncing the first king, Saul, for his disobedience to God, the Prophet Samuel anointed David as king. He had offered David asylum, saving him from the pursuit of King Saul. The Prophet Samuel died in extreme old age. His life is recorded in the Bible (1 Sam/1 Kgs; Sirach 46:13-20). In the year 406 A.D. the relics of the Prophet Samuel were transferred from Judea to Constantinople.

Reference: O.C.A.

Orthodox icon of the Prophet Solomon. Copy of an icon of 13. cent. Mount Athos

Commemorated December 13.

Orthodox icon of the Prophet Solomon. Contemporary icon

Commemorated December 13.

The sizes of this icon are approximate.

Orthodox icon of the Prophet Solomon. Contemporary icon

Commemorated December 13.

The sizes of this icon are approximate.

Orthodox icon of Prophet Sophonias. Copy of an icon of 13 cent. Mount Athos.

NOTICE: the sizes of the icon are NOT exact.

Commemorated December 3

This Prophet, who is ninth in order among the minor Prophets, was the son of Chusi (Cushi), from the tribe of Levi, or according to some, the great-grandson of King Hezekias. He prophesied in the years of Josias, who reigned in the years 641-610 before Christ. His book of prophecy is divided into three chapters. His name means "Yah is darkness."

Orthodox Icon of Prophet Zachariah, Zacharias.

Commemorated September 5.

Protector Saint of : Older Couples

The Holy Prophet Zachariah and the Righteous Elizabeth were the parents of the holy Prophet, John the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord. Zachariah was a priest in the Jerusalem Temple, and Elizabeth was the sister of Anna, the mother of the Most Holy Theotokos. They both were childless. During a service in the Temple, Prophet Zachariah was told by an angel that his wife would bear him a son, who will be great in the sight of the Lord (Luke 1:15) and will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias (Luke 1:17).

Zachariah doubted this prediction was punished for his weak faith by being made mute. When Elizabeth gave birth to a son, and announced that his name was John, although no one in their family had this name. They asked Zachariah and he also wrote the name John down on a tablet. Immediately the gift of speech returned to him, and he began to prophesy about his son as the Forerunner of the Lord. King Herod knew about John's unusual birth and he wanted to kill him, fearing that he was the foretold King of the Jews. But Elizabeth hid herself and the infant in the hills. One day when Zachariah was taking his turn at the services in the Temple, soldiers sent by Herod tried discover the whereabouts of his son.

By command of Herod, they murdered this holy prophet, having stabbed him between the temple and the altar (MT 23: 35).

Reference: O.C.A