The 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 that Protaras is famous for. Due to the fact that it is perched on a rock 115 meters above the complex, you will need to climb approximately 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 quite close.

Seriously speaking, the panoramic views are impressive 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 BC. 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.

So 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 to get water, but due to a drought that Elijah prophesied, it eventually dries up. Driven by hunger and thirst, the prophet finds refuge with a poor widow who lives alone with her only child. 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 to death due to the bareness of the land.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, after a period of fugue 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 putting him through the pain of death and takes him in a chariot of fire. (great movie).

So there you have it, Profitis Elias is not just a church on a rock with incredible views, it is also a tribute to the prophet Elijah 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 out of the church so that people can pass under it and receive a blessing from the saint. It is a time of celebration and there is a traditional market in the streets below. Overall, it is worth a trip to see the church of Profitis Elias in Protaras, Cyprus.