Today, June 14th on the church calendar (June 27th Gregorian), the Serbian Orthodox Church and its believers celebrate Saint Elisha – a prophet believed to be the successor of the prophet Elijah, whose miraculous deeds are part of Christian tradition. But let’s be honest – how many of us truly understand what we are celebrating, and how many blindly follow superstitions that still hold us captive?
Saint Elisha, according to the Bible, inherited the prophetic mantle from Elijah, receiving his cloak and God’s prophetic gift. His miracles are impressive: he parted the Jordan River, purified the bitter water of Jericho, multiplied oil for a poor widow, resurrected a dead son of a woman, and fed a hundred people with just twenty loaves of bread. Impressive, right? But is that a reason to not work in the fields today except for sowing millet, because people believe “Elisha sows millet, Vida goes around”?
On this day, people visit churches and monasteries, rubbing their eyes with plaster from the walls hoping to cure eye diseases. Women take out red fabrics to air them, believing it brings luck and health. It all sounds like we are stuck in time, doesn’t it?
But let’s not be too harsh. These traditions are part of our culture and faith, and for many, a source of comfort and community. Still, isn’t it time to ask how much superstition actually holds us back? How much does it prevent us from thinking rationally and freeing ourselves from old fears?
In a world where science and technology develop at lightning speed, we still cling to customs that take us centuries back. Maybe it’s time to celebrate Saint Elisha as a symbol of faith and tradition, but stop attributing to him powers that belong to science and medicine.
While some strive to preserve these customs, others wonder – is this just another day in the calendar or an opportunity to break free from superstition and move forward?
And you? Did you rub your eyes with plaster today or just chuckle at this article? Share your thoughts, maybe together we’ll find a balance between faith and reason!
