Prophet Abdi
Holiday date: 11/19
The Prophet Abdius (or Obdius) whose name means “servant of the Lord”, lived around 800 BC (according to another version in the second half of the 6th century BC), and is one of the twelve little ones so-called prophets.
The Prophet Obadiah came from Shechem (from the field Bethoharam or Bathaharam), and with his short prophecy he strictly observes with strong poetic expressions the pride and fall of Israel. Here’s what he typically says about pride: “The pride of your heart led you to camp in the holes of the stones, his high dwelling, saying in his heart – will he cast me down on the earth? If you fly like an eagle and if you fly among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the Lord” (Obdiu, 1′ 3,4).
That is, the pride of your heart has caused you to think too highly of yourself, that you dwell in gorges and caves of the mountains and generally impregnable regions. Have you built your dwelling on a great height, do you think you are strong and invincible and speak from within? Who will be able to bring me down to earth? And if you still fly to great heights like the eagle, and if you set your nest high among the stars, from there I will tear you down and bring you down, says the Lord. So let us heed the words of the prophet and cultivate the foundation of virtues, which is humility.
Let us also mention that Abdiou was a student of the prophet Elios, during the reign of Ohaziah, who sent Abdiou to Elias to convince him to come down from the mountain to the king. After the transition of Elias to Ohaziah, Abdiou, resigned from the position of centurion, followed the prophet Elias and served him. When he died he was buried in his fathers tomb.