On Sunday, August 3, 2025, the grounds of St. Andrew the First-Called Memorial Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in South Bound Brook, New Jersey, turned into an improvised parking lot of the faithful: more than one hundred cars, motorcycles, and small trucks lined up in front of the church to receive the annual blessing on the feast day of the Holy Prophet Elijah.
The Divine Liturgy was led by Archbishop Daniel, spiritual father of the Western Eparchy and President of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA. He was joined in concelebration by the newly appointed parish priest, Fr. Vasyl Pasakas, Protopresbyter Emeritus Yuriy Siwko, Rev. Ivan Luszczyk, Rev. David Chidzhokie, and Protodeacon Pavlo Vysotskyi. Seminarians from St. Sophia Seminary assisted the archbishop in blessing the vehicles with holy water, while children peeked out of car windows holding icons on their dashboards.
The tradition of blessing vehicles in the days surrounding July 20 (August 2 according to the new calendar), when the Church commemorates the Prophet Elijah, is rooted in the biblical account of his ascent to heaven in a fiery chariot. This has led to the enduring practice of honoring Elijah as the patron saint of all who travel—whether by car, motorcycle, airplane, or any modern means of transport.
In his sermon, Archbishop Daniel reminded the faithful that true safety lies not in seat belts or airbags: “We travel under the wings of our Guardian Angel, and the Prophet Elijah, who crossed the heavens in a chariot, reminds us that none of our journeys are ever truly solitary.”
St. Andrew’s Memorial Church is the mother cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Its construction began in 1955 and it was consecrated on October 10, 1965. Built in the style of Cossack Baroque, the church stands as a memorial to the victims of the Holodomor and serves as a central hub of Ukrainian life in America.
For many participants, Sunday’s blessing was not only an opportunity to renew prayers for safe travels, but also a chance to reconnect with fellow Ukrainians, discuss volunteer initiatives, and plan upcoming humanitarian trips. Parishioners say the blessing of vehicles serves as a reminder: even on the fast highways of the United States, the Ukrainian community stays united—guided by tradition, by purpose, and by each other.
Author: Diana Khudko