“Then Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it… and he saw him no more” (2 Kings 2:11–12).

There is something deeply mystical and profoundly human in the celebration of the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah - something that connects earth to heaven, the ancient to the modern, the fiery chariot of the Old Testament to the wheels of our present-day lives. This sacred connection came to life once more at St. Andrew the First-Called Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, NJ, where the faithful gathered on Sunday, August 3, 2025, to honor the Prophet Elijah and seek his intercession during the traditional Blessing of Vehicles.

Presiding over the celebration was His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, spiritual father of the Western Eparchy and President of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. He was joined in concelebration of the Divine Liturgy by Very Rev. Fr. Vasyl Pasakas, the newly appoitted pastor of the parish; Protopresbyter Yuriy Siwko, Pastor Emeritus; Rev. Fr. Ivan Luszczyk, Rev. Fr. David Chidzhokie, and Protodeacon Pavlo Vysotskyi. Serving with devotion was also a group of seminarians from St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary, who assisted their archpastor with reverence and joy.

The Holy Prophet Elijah (Illya), whose memory is celebrated each year on July 20/ August 2, is one of the most powerful and mysterious figures in all of Sacred Scripture. He appears suddenly in 1 Kings 17, proclaiming drought by the word of the Lord, and from there, he becomes the thunderous voice of divine justice and heavenly fire. Yet he is also the gentle listener who encounters God not in the storm or earthquake, but in the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12). His ascension into heaven in a whirlwind, riding a fiery chariot, made him not only a forerunner of Christ’s own Ascension but also a symbol of heavenly power, speed, and divine presence.

Because of his ascent into the heavens on a chariot of fire, Elijah is traditionally regarded in the Orthodox Church as the heavenly patron of all vehicles of transport - whether they be cars, motorcycles, ambulances, or airplanes. Fathers of the Church often remark, “The Lord works in every age through visible means to provide invisible grace.” In our age of combustion engines and busy highways, the Prophet Elijah is invoked to guard, protect, and sanctify those who travel. 

Following the prayerful celebration of the Divine Liturgy, the bells of St. Andrew’s rang out joyously as hundreds of parishioners streamed outside the temple. The plaza in front of the Memorial Church was filled with over 100 cars and trucks - their engines idling in hope, their owners seated reverently, awaiting a sacred encounter. Children peered out from back seats, elderly faithful clasped icons on their dashboards, and families crossed themselves in unity as the clergy processed from the altar to the driveway.

Archbishop Daniel stood prayerfully under the open sky and addressed the faithful with heartfelt warmth: “Beloved in Christ, as we journey each day in our lives - on highways, through traffic, over long distances or just down the road - we must never forget that our true protection is not found in airbags and GPS, but in the mercy of the Lord. We travel always under the guidance of our Guardian Angel, in the presence of Christ, and under the protection of the Mother of God. The Prophet Elijah, who was lifted into the heavens in a flaming chariot, is a sign to us that no journey is ever truly alone.”

With joyful chants of “Ton Despotin” and the singing of the troparion to the Prophet Elijah, the Archbishop and clergy began to sprinkle each vehicle - and its occupants - with holy water, invoking the name of the All-Holy Trinity. The seminarians, clothed in green sticharia, walked prayerfully alongside, blessing each windshield and hood, as if reminding the world that even machines can be sanctified for the service of humanity.

Each vehicle was not merely a mode of transportation, but a chariot of Christian love, to carry its driver into encounters with others, with creation, and ultimately with God.

The blessing of vehicles may seem like a quaint custom to some, but it is, in truth, a powerful act of spiritual relevance. In blessing cars, the Church does not only sanctify metal and machinery; it blesses the people within them - their purposes, destinations, and responsibilities. In a world of rush, distractions, and accidents, this act reminds us that even our most routine activities must be done with prayerfulness and mindfulness.

It is also a tradition deeply rooted in the Church’s heritage. In ancient times, the early Christians would bless boats before sea journeys, oxen before plowing, and horses before long rides. Just as the early Church embraced the tools of its time, the Orthodox Church today blesses modern “chariots” - vehicles, ambulances, planes, trains, and motorcycles - with the same faith that sanctified the waters of baptism and the bread of the Eucharist.

“We do not fear the roads ahead,” Archbishop Daniel remarked, “because we do not drive alone. With the prayers of the Prophet Elijah and the blessing of the Church, we drive with hope, humility, and love.”

As the last car was sprinkled, and the final prayer intoned, a peaceful stillness filled the grounds of St. Andrew’s. There was no honking, no rush, only reverence. The faithful smiled, waved to their clergy, and drove off - some to brunch, others to visit family, still others to return to the quietness of home. But all left with a renewed sense of God’s presence on the road ahead.

This year’s celebration was not just a blessing of cars, but a blessing of lives, journeys, and every sacred moment in between. It reminded each participant that life is a pilgrimage and every road can lead to the Kingdom, so long as we drive with the Lord in our hearts and the intercession of the saints in our prayers.

May the fiery chariot of the Prophet Elijah continue to guide us across the highways of this world into the glorious light of the next.

“Holy Prophet Elijah, intercede for us! Drive with us! Protect us!”

“O Prophet Elijah, man of God and flame of zeal, ascend with us on every journey and descend with us into the care of others. Be our guardian on every road, and by your prayers, guide us to Christ.”