The Fiery Ascent of the Prophet Elijah

Elijah is a great prophet who is described in the Book of Kings where he warns King Ahab and Queen Jezebel that “there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” This was to be punishment for their worship of the God Baal. Elijah left there and lived in hiding by a brook and was fed by ravens for a period of time and then with a widow who fed him
from her meager stores. He presented himself to the King again after three years of severe drought and arranged to have public sacrifices made to the God of Israel and Baal to see which was the true God and which was false. A miracle performed by Elijah convinced those in attendance the Baal was false and those priests who served him were put to death. Jezebel threatened to have Elijah killed for this and he fled again and was told by an angel of God to annoint his servant Elisha to succeed him as prophet. Elijah returned several times to warn Ahab and Jezebel of the punishments they would face for worshiping Baal, he also warned their son Ahazia. Some time later Elijah and his successor Elisha were traveling together and came upon the River Jordon, Elijah struck the waters with his cloak and they seperated so that the prophets could cross easily. It was after this that a fiery chariot came to take Elijah to Paradise. He left Elisha his cloak as a symbol of leaving a "double portion" of his spirit.
In this icon the many stories from the life of Elijah are placed within a single frame. Moments of greater importance are larger than others.