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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 thin gs, 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.
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