Jerusalem, Israel
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
—Bible, Proverbs 13:22
On a ridge with panoramic views of the ancient road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, the twelfth-century Greek Orthodox monastery of Mar Elias stands like a fortress, in stark contrast to the three-story Byzantine building with a bell tower that once stood on the site. In that original sixth-century church, the prophet Elijah (Elias) found shelter while fleeing the vindictive queen Jezebel. Elijah performed many miracles, including raising a child of a poor widow from the dead. Today, the monastery is a popular pilgrimage site, especially for infertile women and sick and infirm children, who believe that here their prayers are answered.
Whether you seek Elijah’s assistance in bringing health to a child or bringing a child into your home, come to Mar Elias. The monastery is 3 miles from central Jerusalem and roughly a mile from the checkpoint into Bethlehem from Jerusalem. Get there by rental car, taxi, or guided tour.
Cover you head, light a candle, and pray for the blessing of good homes and good health for all children.
A stone bench memorializing the pre-Raphaelite painter William Holman Hunt in front of the monastery reads: “Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and thy neighbor as thyself” (Bible, Luke 10:27).