The Feast of the Glorious Prophet Elijah

In our parish family of St. George's it has been a nice tradition to bless vehicles on July 20 in commemoration of the holy prophet Elijah who was taken into heaven on a fiery chariot, and also to commemorate the conversion of the Ethiopian, who was reading scripture while in his chariot. The glorious prophet Elijah is therefore known as the patron saint of vehicles, reminding us that we must struggle to manifest holiness in our lives, especially when we travel. To honor this great prophet of the Old Testament in our Holy Church dates back to Apostolic times. In the fourth century, the feast was already generally known. Our holy fathers John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine have testified to his greatness, a fact which alone would prove the antiquity of this feast. Below is the Prayer for the Blessing of Cars and any kind of Vehicle:

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

O Lord our God, Who make the clouds your conveyance and walk on the wings of the wind. Who sent to your servant Elijah a chariot of fire, Who have guided man to invent this Car (Truck. etc.) which is as fast as the wind, we render thanks to You; for You have provided your servants with this Car to serve in their different needs. Therefore, O Master, pour now upon it your heavenly blessings; assign to it a guardian angel to preserve it against all evil. And as You have granted faith and grace by your deacon, Philip, to the man from Ethiopia who was sitting in his chariot and reading holy Scripture. show the way of salvation to your servants, so that, helped by your grace and always intent on doing good works, they may, after all the trials of their pilgrimage and life on earth, attain to everlasting joys, through the intercession of our Lady, the most holy and ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, through the power of the honorable and life-giving Cross; through the prayers of the holy Angels and of all the Saints: For You are the Provider and the Sanctifier of all things, and we give glory to You, and to your only-begotten Son, and to your all-holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever.

People: Amen.

Priest: This Car (Truck etc.) is blessed by the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.