Bautar village; Caras-Severin County; Romania: restored Romanian Orthodox Church of prophet Elijah (Romanian: Sf. Ilie); detail outside wall frescoe Prophet Elijah raises with horses in a whirlwind to heaven; background; Bautar is a commune in Caras-Severin County; western Romania with a population of 2.813 people. It is composed of four villages: Bautar; Bucova (Bukova); Cornisoru (Strimba) and Preveciori. Teh viallge popualtion is Romanian orthodox since 1783 AD. According to the Books of Kings; Elijah defended the worship of Yahweh over that of the Phoenician god Baal (which was considered as idol worship); he raised the dead; brought fire down from the sky; and was taken up in a whirlwind (either accompanied by a chariot and horses of flame or riding in it). In the Book of Malachi; Elijah's return is prophesied before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord;[5] making him a harbinger of the Messiah.