The Raven on the Icon

 

A raven is depicted on the icon of the holy prophet Elijah. How did this bird get there?

The raven was considered an unclean bird. And here she is next to the holy prophet, and food is in her beak.

Saint Elijah denounced the Israeli king Ahab and his wife Jezebel for deviating from faith in the true God. But the king did not heed the preaching of the prophet and the Lord punished his kingdom with a terrible drought. There was a great famine.

The Lord commanded the prophet to go to the channel Khorath, next to the Jordan. There was water here, but there was no food. And so that Elijah would not die of hunger, the Lord commanded the raven to bring him food.

So the raven, an unclean animal, ended up next to the great prophet Elijah, and remained with him on the icon.