Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 19:27:49 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: MB: Ilya


'Ilya' is a little-known medieval russian mystic.  When he came to
France in the middle ages, all the people would point and shout,
'There he is! Ilya the russian!  Ilya the russian!'  And so 'il y a'
entered the French language.