Father Theophan blesses police vehicles during a former observance of the Orthodox feast of the Righteous Elijah. He will again bless police vehicles Friday during shift changes in the Justice Center parking lot. He will also bless vehicles from the community on Sunday at 11:45 a.m. at Saint Job of Pochaiv Orthodox Church at 1319 Trinity Drive. Courtesy photo
BY FR. THEOPHAN MACKEY
St. Job of Pochaiv Orthodox Church
Los Alamos
On Friday, Aug. 2, the Orthodox Church will celebrate the feast of the Righteous Elijah (Elias). If you remember back to your Sunday School days, he was one of the great prophets of the Old Testament. He defeated 400 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and called Israel to repentance and worship of the one true God and ultimately was taken up to heaven alive by way of a fiery chariot.
And there’s where the vehicles come in.
In the Bible, there are few vehicles described: ox carts and chariots and the like (and one Honda, as the old joke goes). But here in Kings and in other places, the heavenly host (literally, the army of the Lord) is described as riding horses and chariots of fire. Elijah is swept away to heaven in a whirlwind and chariot of fire.
Seizing on this unusual use of technology in the heavenly realm, the Orthodox Church blesses vehicles at this time of year.
On Friday, at their shift changes, Father Theophan will bless the cruisers and other vehicles of the Los Alamos Police Department at the Justice Center.
Blessing a car (or anything else for that matter) is not a magical practice. It will neither extend the life of the vehicle nor increase the gas mileage. What we ask in a blessing, is that God will use the vehicle as an integral and positive part of the spiritual journey of those who travel in it.
Blessings are not necessarily comfortable things. For those who end up riding in the back of these cruisers against their will, we pray that the difficult time they are currently having, ends up getting them to a better place eventually.
On Sunday, the 4 at 11:45, after the Divine Liturgy, we will bless vehicles at Saint Job. Anyone who would like to receive this blessing is welcome to come.
The address of the church is 1319 Trinity Drive, behind Muy Salsas.
I hope to see you there.
Fr. Theophan
(Honda – Acts 2:1)