The Holy Prophet Obadiah (or Abdia) is the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he lived in the ninth century B.C. He came from the village of Betharam near Sichem and served as the steward to the impious Israelite King Ahab. At that time, all of Israel had turned away from the true God and had begun offering sacrifices to Baal, yet Obadiah remained a faithful servant of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, worshipping Him in secret.

When Ahab’s wife, the wicked and corrupt Jezebel, sought to kill all the prophets of the Lord because of her conflict with the Prophet Elias, Obadiah hid them and provided them with food (3/1 Kgs 18:3 ff). Later, Ahab’s successor, King Okhoziah (Ahaziah), sent three detachments of soldiers to arrest the Prophet Elias (commemorated July 20). One of these detachments was led by Obadiah himself. Through the prayers of Elias, two of the detachments were consumed by heavenly fire, but Obadiah and his men were spared by the Lord (4/2 Kgs 1).

After this miracle, Obadiah left military service and became a follower of the Prophet Elias. In time, he too received the gift of prophecy. His God-inspired writing forms the fourth book of the Twelve Minor Prophets, containing prophecies about the future salvation of the Gentiles (v. 15) and the coming of the Savior from Sion (v. 17). The holy Prophet Obadiah—his name meaning “servant” or “worshiper of the Lord”—was buried in Samaria.

In iconography, the Prophet Obadiah is shown as an elderly man with grey hair and a rounded beard. His scroll bears the words: “In that day, saith the Lord, I shall destroy the wise men out of Idumea” (Obadiah 8).

Troparion — Tone 2

We celebrate the memory / of Your prophet Obadiah, O Lord; / through him we entreat You, / save our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 1

The great Obadiah, acquiring a mind luminous with divine splendor, / speaks through the Holy Spirit, proclaiming things to come. / Today we honor him with faithful minds, / celebrating his holy memory which enlightens the hearts of men.