The dramatic story is told in 1 Kings 18. During the reign of Ahab and his Phoenician queen Jezebel, the worship of Baal had spread throughout the northern kingdom of Israel. Elijah challenged this religious apostasy by inviting the king, the people, and the 450 prophets of Baal to Mount Carmel. Each side prepared a sacrifice but was forbidden to light the fire. The prophets of Baal prayed from morning until evening: "O Baal, answer us!" but nothing happened. They danced, shouted, and even cut themselves with knives, but there was no response. Elijah then repaired the Lord's broken altar with twelve stones, dug a trench around it, placed the sacrifice upon it, and poured water over it three times until everything was soaked. He prayed only briefly: "Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that You, Lord, are God." Immediately, "the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. "The people fell on their faces crying, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!’” Afterward, Elijah ordered the arrest of the prophets of Baal, who were taken to the Kishon River and executed. Soon after this, after more than three years of drought, rain returned to the land.

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No archaeological evidence identifies the precise place where Elijah's contest occurred. Nevertheless, many scholars agree that the southeastern ridge of Mount Carmel fits the biblical description remarkably well because it overlooks the Jezreel Valley and is close to the Kishon River, where the narrative says the prophets of Baal were taken after the challenge.

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One first encounters a peaceful courtyard surrounded by flowering gardens and pine trees. Dominating the courtyard is a bronze statue of Elijah. This portrays Elijah as a powerful prophet immediately after his victory over the prophets of Baal. He stands with a raised sword while one of the defeated prophets lies beneath him.

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The church itself is modest in size, creating an atmosphere of prayer rather than grandeur.

The focal point of the church is the altar, which is built from twelve stones, recalling Elijah's reconstruction of the altar of the Lord using twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel: "Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob..." (1 Kings 18:31). The walls contain inscriptions in Hebrew and Arabic recounting the biblical story, emphasizing Elijah's challenge: "If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him." (1 Kings 18:21). Do go to the roof terrace, which many consider the highlight of their visit. On a clear day one can see: the entire Jezreel Valley, Mount Tabor, Nazareth and the hills of Lower Galilee, Mount Hermon in the far distance, the Mediterranean coast, and much of the Carmel range. This panorama helps visitors appreciate why the biblical event could have been witnessed by such a large gathering.

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The Carmelite Order is one of the oldest religious orders of the Catholic Church. It traces its roots to a group of Christian hermits who settled on Mount Carmel in the late twelfth century during the Crusader period. Living in caves near a spring traditionally associated with the Prophet Elijah, they sought a life of prayer, simplicity, and contemplation. They regarded Elijah as their spiritual father because of his zeal for God, his life of solitude, and his experience of encountering God not in dramatic displays of power but in a "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12).

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Most were forced to leave the country after the collapse of the Crusader Kingdom, and their buildings on Mount Carmel were repeatedly destroyed during centuries of warfare. The order returned to the Carmel in the 17th century.

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The Carmelites place special emphasis on the interior spiritual life. Their goal is to develop a deep and intimate relationship with God through prayer and contemplation. Although contemplation remains central, Carmelites also engage in many practical activities. Today, the Carmelite family includes friars, nuns, sisters, and lay members spread across the world. Some live in enclosed monasteries devoted almost entirely to prayer, while others serve in schools, parishes, universities, and retreat centers.

Discalced Carmelites ("barefoot Carmelites") are Carmelites who emphasize poverty, silence, and intense prayer. They are the result of a 16th century reform of the Carmelite movement that sought to restore the simplicity and contemplative focus of the original Carmelites.