ELIA DI REGGIO, DETTO LO SPELETTA, SANTO - Enciclopedia Cattolica, Vol. V, p. 167

Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.

ELIAS OF REGGIO, called LO SPELETTA, Saint. — Basilian ascetic, born in Reggio Calabria (not in Bova) ca. 1865, died on March 18, 1865. He was called “lo Spelleta” because he spent most of his life in caves. He became a monk in 830. He then went to Sicily, wandered through Calabria, and visited Rome to venerate the tombs of the Apostles. Upon his return, he retired to a cave at Melicucka, where he died.

Bibl.: His life was written by his disciple Ciriaco and is preserved in codex 30 (ff. 29-49) of Messina. A copy is found in codex II, A, 26 of the National Library in Palermo. The Latin translation, made by the Basilian Antonio Tommasi, is preserved in codex Barberini Lat. 446. The Greek original with the Latin translation is reproduced in Acta SS. Septembris, III (Paris 1868), pp. 848-87; A. Agresta, Vita e conversazione del s. P. Spelleta, in codex B, 8, XVII of Grottaferrata. S. Careri, Vita del glorioso s. E., Naples 1785; D. Martire, Calabria sacra e profana, I, Cosenza 1877, pp. 156-62; G. Minasi, Lo Spelleta, Naples 1893.

ELIAB (abbr. of “El is my father”). — Name of seven persons in the Old Testament.

1. Son of Helon and leader of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the Sinai desert (Num. 1:9; 2:7; 16). Like the other tribal leaders, he offered rich gifts to Yahweh (Num. 7:2-29).

2. Son of Pallu of the tribe of Reuben, and father of Dathan and Abiram, leaders of the rebellion against Moses’ authority (Num. 16:1).

3. Eldest son of Jesse: at his appearance Samuel thought he might be the Lord’s anointed (1 Chr. 2:12); he was of proud disposition (1 Sam. 17:13, 18); his daughter or niece Abigail married Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:18).

4. A Levite of the lineage of Kohath, ancestor of Samuel (1 Chr. 6:27); his true name may have been Elihu (1 Sam. 1:1).

5. One of the warriors of the tribe of Gad who presented themselves to David to offer him service during Saul’s persecution (1 Chr. 12:9, 14).

6. A Levite, a musician of the second order in David’s time: he played the nebel or harp.

7. Son of Nathan, ancestor of Judith (Judg. 8:1; Vulg. Enan).