Annual Picnic / Blessing of Vehicles • Mount Carmel

St. Michael's Welcomes Many Guests for Annual Picnic and Blessing of Vehicles - 07/25/2021

St. Michael’s Church in Mount Carmel, PA had its annual picnic on Sunday - July 25, 2021. We celebrate and host our picnic on the first Sunday after the Feast day of the Holy Glorious Prophet Elijah (July 20). This Old Testament Saint is very important for our community, since our little town, “Mount Carmel”, got its name as a Biblical reference to the mountain where Prophet Elijah had confronted the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). Altar to the One, True God was rebuilt on Mount Carmel by the Prophet Elijah. It was there on this Holy Mountain that the glory of God was manifested, and it was proved that there is no other god but The One God of Israel.
We had our traditional blessing of vehicles following the Divine Liturgy. It is Orthodox custom to bless cars on the Feast of the Prophet Elijah, or Sunday closest to the Feast day. Since he was taken up into Heaven in a fiery chariot, we bless our modes of transportation with the hope of safe travels.
Social gathering continued in the church hall, following the blessing of the vehicles. We were blessed and happy to welcome, not just our parishioners, but people from our local community and friends of our parish. This way we were able to manifest our gratitude for the support and love that they have been showing to our parish.
We are very grateful to Mount Carmel Borough Police Department for participating in this event. Policemen from this department were welcomed at our parish. They took part in the fellowship, so everyone had opportunity to interact with them, and thus make our community bounds stronger. Their vehicles were blessed as well.
We were pleased to welcome parishioners from SS. Peter and Paul's Church in Minersville, PA, together with their Rector, Rev. Joseph Ramishvili. It was a great opportunity for parishioners of two local Orthodox parishes to get to know each others better, and to show mutual support. It was also a joy and honor to welcome Matushka Theodora Ressetar, with her family.
Last but not least, we are thankful to our local Ice Cream shop, Pepe's Famous Italian Ice, for bringing their ice cream truck to our church for the picnic. People were able to refresh themselves and enjoy the best quality ice creams.

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