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Website design By BotEap.comThe Church of Profitis Elias is well worth a visit, especially if you need to burn off some of those extra pounds you may be packing on after visiting those great restaurants and bars Protaras is famous for. Due to the fact that it stands on a rock 115 meters above the complex, you will need to climb about the same number of steps (115) to reach it. However, once at the top and as long as you survive the climb, the views are magnificent. In fact, you can see that all the small private clinics that treat heart attack victims are pretty close.
Website design By BotEap.comSeriously though, the panoramic views are amazing and on clear days you can see Famagusta directly. The church of Profitis Elias is named after the prophet Elijah who appears in the old testament of the Bible. Around the 9th century B.C. C., God sent him to the sinful king of Israel named Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel (now you know where that comes from) to show them the error of their ways because, among other things, they were worshiping a false God. called Baal. Unfortunately, Elijah was not very well received and the evil king even threatened to kill him.
Website design By BotEap.comSo he hides in the mountains in a cave and God sends a raven every day with food in its beak. There is also a nearby stream for water, but due to a drought that Elijah prophesied, it eventually dries up. Driven by hunger and thirst, the prophet finds refuge in a poor widow who lives alone with her only son. Elijah performs a miracle with the small amount of food in the house and even resurrects his son after he dies due to illness. The drought lasts three years and many of the Israelites starve due to the bareness of the land.
Website design By BotEap.comAnyway, to make a long story short, after a period on the run, Elijah returns and finally puts this false God to the test by challenging the priest to pray for fire from above to burn a sacrifice. Of course it doesn’t happen, however God sends fire to consume Elijah’s offering even though it is soaked in water and the Israelites turn to God. Later in his life, God decides to bring Elijah closer to himself without making him go through the pain of death and takes him in a chariot of fire. (great movie).
Website design By BotEap.comSo, there you have it, Profitis Elias is not just a church on a rock with amazing views, it is also a tribute to the prophet Elias and there is more too. Most Cypriots are named after a saint like Michael, Peter etc. and even, yes, you guessed it, Elias. With derivatives like elianna for girls. Every year there is a “christening day” when the icon is carried outside the church so that people can go under it and receive a blessing from the saint. It is a time for celebration and there is a traditional market in the streets below. Overall, it is worth a trip to see the Profitis Elias Church in Protaras, Cyprus.
