Obadiah the ProphetCommemorated November 19
Holy Prophet Obadiah (or Abdia) is the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he lived during the ninth century BC. He was from the village of Betharam, near Sichem, and he served as steward of the impious Israelite King Ahab. In those days, the whole of Israel had turned away from the true God and had begun to offer sacrifice to Baal, but Obadiah faithfully served the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in secret.
When Ahab's wife, the impious and dissolute Jezebel, hunted down all the prophets of the Lord (because of her quarrel with the Prophet Elias), Obadiah gave them shelter and food (3 Kings 18:3-4). Ahab's successor King Okhoziah (Ahaziah) sent three detachments of soldiers to arrest the holy Prophet Elias (commemorated July 20). Obadiah headed one of these detachments, and through the prayer of Prophet Elias, two of the detachments were consumed by heavenly fire, but the Lord spared Obadiah and his detachment. From that moment, Obadiah resigned from military service and became a follower of the Prophet Elias. Afterwards, he himself received the gift of prophecy. The God-inspired work of Obadiah is the fourth of the Books of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Bible, and contains predictions about the New Testament Church. The holy Prophet Obadiah was buried in Samaria.
Dismissal Hymn (Second Tone)
As we celebrate the memory of Your Prophet Obadiach, O Lord, through him we beseech You to save our souls.
Kontakion (Plagal of the Fourth Tone)
As a divinely-chosen Prophet, you foretold things far off, that on Mount Sion salvation should come to pass, for Heaven's mysteries shone on you; as you dwell in Heaven with the Prophets, rejoicing in Christ whom you foretold, entreat Him, O Obadiach, to save us, who honour you with love.http://home.iprimus.com.au/xenos/obadiah.html
