When it is said
A priest reads it when he blesses a plane.
It is a priest’s prayer, though a passenger might pray its words for the plane and everyone on board.
Where it comes from
No author known
Where does it come from?
The prayer belongs to the order for blessing a plane in the Russian Book of Needs. After the usual opening prayers a reader says Psalm 139, and the priest reads this prayer. Then he sprinkles the plane with holy water inside and out. No author or date is given.
The Great Book of Needs, Volume III (St Tikhon’s Seminary Press, 1999), pages 65-66; Чин освящения самолета, Воинский требник, Azbyka
A ship of the air
The Slavonic asks God to make holy “this ship of the air”, and St Tikhon’s English keeps the picture as “this boat of the air”. The words the priest says as he sprinkles it name it plainly, “this plane”.
The Great Book of Needs, Volume III (St Tikhon’s Seminary Press, 1999), page 66; Воинский требник (the Military Book of Needs), Azbyka
What the words mean
Elijah, Habakkuk and Philip
Each name is someone God carried through the air. Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind when a chariot of fire appeared (2 Kings 2:11). In the Greek book of Daniel, an angel carries the prophet Habakkuk to Babylon with a meal for Daniel in the lions’ den. The Spirit carried Philip away after a baptism (Acts 8:39). The Church’s hymns add that the apostles were brought on clouds to the burial of Christ’s Mother.
The Scripture in it
He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Го́споди Бо́же, на Херуви́мех носи́мый и о́гненною колесни́цею Илию́ на Небеса́ взе́мый, А́нгелы же Твои́ми Авваку́ма и Фили́ппа диа́кона по возду́ху пренесы́й и на успе́ние Твоея́ Ма́тере апо́столы собра́вый, сам кора́бль сей возду́шный освяти́ и путеше́ствующия в нем благослови́, от вся́каго зла соблюда́я, я́ко Ты еси́ еди́н всеси́лен и Тебе́ сла́ву возсыла́ем Отцу́ и Сы́ну и Свято́му Ду́ху ны́не и при́сно и во ве́ки веко́в. Ами́нь.