The Orthodox Christians following the Julian calendar celebrate the Feast of Saint Prophet Elias (or Elijah) on August 2. Elias was a prophet and a wonder-worker. In people’s tradition, he is considered the protector of harvests and the bringer of rain in times of drought. On this day the people use to go to church to bless the first harvest of the year, IPN reports.

Saint Prophet Elias is one of the 16 prophets of the Old Testament. He lived in the northern kingdom of Israel, in Samaria, during the reign of Ahab (9th century BC). The people consider he can bring rain as he saved the people of Israel from death by prayer, when God punished them with three years and a half of drought. They say the heavy summer rain starts after this feast.

Elijah is also a figure in various Christian folk traditions, often identified with earlier pagan thunder or sky gods.

On the Feast of Saint Prophet Elias, they bless fruit and vegetables as well as bee honey, which is eaten together with cucumbers. This is not yet a church ritual, but a people’s one.