Saint

Elias

  Brief History

  Tropar and Kontakion

  The Blessing of Cars and Other Vehicles

Brief History

St. Elias, also known as Elijah, is commemorated in the Byzantine Church on July 20th. It is a feast that dates back to the fourth century, but has special significance for people of the Byzantine Slavonic and Hungarian heritage because the renowned Icon of Maria Povch first shed tears on the Feast of St. Elias in the year 1715. Elias is a prophet of the Old Testament who lived in the ninth century before the Corning of Jesus Christ.

The Troparion of his feast calls him "a pillar of prophets, and the second Forerunner of the coming of Christ." Because, as Scripture tells us, he was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot, the Jewish people felt that he did not die as mortals do, and that some day he would return to earth to "restore the tribes of Israel." (Ecclus. 48: 10) Indeed, some people considered that Jesus Christ was actually the returned Elias.

Icons depicting Elias usually show him in a chariot drawn by fiery horses heading heavenward and his cloak or mantle falling earthward into the outstretched arms of Elisha his companion and disciple, signifying the transfer of his power and authority of a prophet.

His many miracles can easily be rendered in symbols:

rain ending a seven year drought; fire from heaven consuming his water drenched altar with its offering of a bull while the altar of the pagan priests, dry and ready, could not be ignited by incessant prayers to the pagan god Baal. There was also the widow of Sarephath whose two containers of oil and meal he kept repeatedly full through prayer, and then raised her son from a sudden death. On one occasion Elias, in order to cross the River Jordan, struck the waters with his cloak; the waters parted and he and Elisha were able to cross to the other side. At another time, while in hiding from persecutors, he hid by the Brook of Cherith and there, was miraculously fed by ravens.

To learn more details about these miraculous events we suggest you read Kings I, and Kings II of the Old Testament.

Elias was one of the greatest and most remarkable prophets of the Old Testament. Of his origin, not much is known, except that he was a Thesbite. He appeared on the historical scene during the reign of Achab (9 cent. B.C.). He delivered to that impious king the message of Yahweh: Israel would be punished by a long drought and Achab’s house would fall. He then lived to see the tragic end of Achab. Next we hear of Elias in connection with Ochozias, Achab’s son and successor, to whom he predicted that the injuries received in a fall would be fatal. The end of the earthly life of Elias came mysteriously. As he was conversing with Eliseus on the hills of Moah, "a fiery chariot, and fiery horses parted them both asunder, and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven" ( Kings. 2:11) Jews, Christians and Moslems pay high honor to Elias; Carmelite monks cherish the belief that their order was in some sense founded by him. Together with Moses, he appeared at Christ’s transfiguration.

The veneration of Elias dates back to apostolic times. In the fourth century, the feast was already generally known. St. John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine have testified to his greatness, a fact which alone would prove the antiquity of this feast.

Troparion   Tone 4

It is customary in the Byzantine Rite and other Eastern Catholic Churches to bless cars and other modes of transportation on the Feast of St. Elias. In commemoration of God’s taking him up to Heaven in a Fiery Chariot, and also to commemorate the conversion of the Ethiopian, who was reading scripture while in his chariot.

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 Elias 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, 0 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.

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.