If you have a question: "What is unction and how is it carried out?", We recommend that you spend a little time and read our article: here you can find a complete answer. You will also learn what the Gospel says about the unction, how to prepare for it, and what to do with oil and grain after it.
The rite of assembly. Its purpose
In the Christian tradition, there are some sacraments that are very important for believers. One of these can be considered unction, or unction. The origins of this rite go back to the gospel times, but the ritual itself in today's interpretation has been significantly changed.
To understand what unction is and how it is carried out, one must know what its purpose is. The main purpose of the sacrament is healing. Moreover, the healing of not only bodily ailments, but also mental ones. Also during the ceremony there is an absolution of sins, which a person could forget and not confess. It is even believed that unction is somewhat akin to confession.
This sacrament is called by different names. Initially, it was the consecration of oil, since oil was used for the ceremony, with which a person was anointed. In the future, they began to call it none other than the sacrament of unction. And the thing is that several priests (seven) perform the rite, that is, the cathedral.
Gospel and historical references to the origin of the rite
What is the essence of congregation? To understand, you need to delve into history. As already mentioned, the origins of the sacrament should be sought in the gospel time, in particular, we are talking about the period when Jesus Christ lived. His actions to heal the sick were reflected in the rite of unction, or unction. In the future, such miraculous deeds were continued by his apostles.
The first rites of healing took place by the laying on of hands, but after some time in the message written by the Apostle James, one could read that the sick person could call the ministers of the church to pray and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. If a suffering person has faith, then he will be healed, and all sins will be forgiven him (meaning those that he forgot about). AT modern version sacraments, the laying on of hands was replaced by anointing with oil, and in memory of ancient rite The gospel is placed on the patient's forehead.
The first procedures of unction in Russia were quite simple, only psalms and a few prayers were read. In addition, rituals were carried out mainly at home. It was not until the sixth century that this sacrament began to take on the form it has today.
When is the convocation
What else do you need to know about such a rite as unction? How to pass it. When exactly is it done. For sick parishioners who cannot visit the temple and stand the service, it is allowed to conduct a ritual at home on any of the days agreed with the clergy.
There are also traditional unction days. They fall during Great Lent or Christmas. Usually this is not one day, but several, since there are many who want to heal the soul. You should find out about all this in the chosen temple, since such sacraments are not yet held in all. By the way, find out in advance that proofreading of the possessed is not carried out before the unction, as this is not welcome at all.
Who can congregate?
In order to understand what unction is and how it is performed, one should also deal with the question of who can undergo this ritual. Every Christian who has reached the age of seven can take communion. The younger ones are not allowed to undergo this ritual. However, some clergy believe that in exceptional cases, when the child is sick, this is quite appropriate.
Also, it is impossible for women to take unction during critical days. Therefore, if this happened, then it is better to refrain from this ceremony.
Many people believe that this sacrament is resorted to when a person is on his deathbed. Actually it is not. The rite is performed not only on a person who is sick or will soon leave this mortal world. After all, what is unction (how to go through this rite - we will discuss a little lower)? This is not the last confession and absolution of sins before the transition to another world, and certainly not a funeral service, God forbid! Yes, first of all, sick people pass this sacrament, however, during the ritual at home, they anoint not only the one who especially needs it, but also all household members, blessing them with sacred oil. Therefore, you should not expose yourself to the fear of an imminent death. Very many sick people got better after the unction, or they got much better. Christians who have already died and those who are unconscious are not allowed to the sacrament.
So, as already mentioned, they can absolutely, however, not more often than once a year (usually in Great Lent). This sacrament frees from forgotten sins, and also heals from mental illness. But it must be remembered that unction itself will not replace
Preparation for the ceremony
Some believers have a question before undergoing unction: how to prepare for this rite? No special preparations are required. However, the believer before the sacrament must take communion and confess. The same must be done after the completion of the ceremony. As you can see, confession is an integral procedure. If you suddenly decide that all sins will be forgiven, you just have to pass unction, then this is not so. In fact, a person should sincerely repent that he has ever done something unconsciously.
Also, before the unction, the clergy prepare special items that will be needed during the sacrament. The person who came to the temple should purchase a candle. It is not obligatory to fast (except for those cases when they gather during Great Lent).
What is needed to perform the ceremony
Usually, the following items are needed to conduct the ceremony at home and in the temple:
- a table covered with a clean cloth (tablecloth) (an lectern is used in the church);
- grains of wheat (other cereals are also allowed) placed on a dish (symbolize life itself, as well as renewal, both physical and spiritual);
- a vessel for the consecration of oil;
- seven candles;
- seven sticks to wrap with cotton wool;
- vegetable oil (usually olive, which was of particular value to the ancients);
- a little red wine (symbolizes the blood of the Lord).
In addition, the clergyman uses the Gospel and the cross. As you can see, it is still necessary to prepare some items in order to conduct the Unction. How to prepare a person who wants to go through this sacrament is written above.
Conducting a ceremony in a church
The sacrament of unction is traditionally performed in the temple (with the exception of weak believers who cannot come due to illness). The ceremony is performed by seven clergy, but one is allowed in special occasions. Why just seven? The whole point is that during the ceremony just so many times the texts from the Apostle, the Gospel, as well as prayers are read. Seven times the congregation is anointed with holy oil.
Before the ceremony begins, all parishioners must light candles. The unction itself in the temple is divided into three parts (conditionally):
- prayer singing;
- consecration of oil;
- anointing with oil.
In the first part there are hymns and prayers, and also those who came to the unction are listed by name. The sacrament begins with the words "Blessed be our God ...", then the process is a shortened morning service, which is performed at the time when fasting lasts. By the way, modern breviaries are not at all like the ancient ones, and some prayers differ significantly (and the rite itself too). Perhaps that is why some persistent prejudices have arisen.
In the second part, the anointing oil is consecrated. To do this, mix wine and vegetable oil in a separate vessel. Wine is an obligatory component, as it symbolizes the blood of the Lord, shed for the salvation of mankind by Jesus Christ. Then seven candles should be lit, and the clergyman should read a special prayer to consecrate the oil.
And at the end there is an anointing of those assembled. At the same time, the Apostles, the Gospel, a short litany are read, as well as a special prayer, which speaks of forgiveness and healing.
The last part is performed seven times, but each time completely different passages from the Gospel and the Apostles are read. At the very end, after the sevenfold anointing, all the parishioners surround the clergy. The latter say a prayer and place an open Gospel on each. Then comes the kissing holy book, and after - litanies and bows of the parishioners. This completes the sacrament.
Conducting a ceremony at home
It is usually carried out in the church, even over the sick. However, if it is not possible to come to the temple and perform the ceremony there, then the priests can visit the sick person at home. The rite takes place in almost the same way as in the temple. During the sacrament, all relatives can be present, during the ritual they are also anointed with sacred oil.
What to do after the unction
After the unction, the believer must take communion, and he can also take home the cereals that were used during the sacrament, and the sacred oil. At home, all this can be added in small quantities to food. The sick places are anointed with oil crosswise.
Note! If you still have oil and cereals before the next unction, then you need to burn them, and bury the ashes in a place where almost no one walks. You can also give the remains to the temple to be burned there (some have special ovens for destroying dilapidated ritual items). It should be noted that in ancient times, everything that remained from the unction was not given to the parishioners, but was burned. Even now, in some churches, oil and wheat can be given only if the one who is taking the unction specifically asked for it.
Parishioners who passed the rite
Those parishioners who consciously, with deep faith and repentance underwent the sacrament of unction, note a significant spiritual relief. As for physical healing, we note that it does not necessarily happen immediately after the ceremony. However, in the future, if you believe the words of the parishioners who witnessed the miracle, a person may well be healed, especially if you pray regularly. The main thing here is not to forget about the Lord, about your sins, which led to physical weakness.
After the sacrament, many, especially those who are mentally ill, feel the calm and intercession of the Almighty. If anyone was destined to leave this world after the ceremony, they managed to bless their relatives (except in very difficult cases) and depart with a peaceful soul.
The difference between chrismation and unction (unction)
We hope that now you understand how the unction works. However, there is a sacrament very similar to the sanctification of the oil - chrismation. The essence of both rites is the anointing with holy oil, however, unction is performed more often on sick believers (spiritually or physically). Confirmation is performed once in a lifetime, immediately after a person's baptism or if he converted to Orthodoxy from another confession.
Parishioners are also anointed with holy oil during Vespers, but this is not considered a separate sacrament, but only part of the service.
Unction Myths
If you have already understood how unction works, let's discuss some aspects of this sacrament that can give the wrong impression. For example, as already mentioned, some believe that this rite is performed only on the dying, therefore, it somehow hastens the death of the afflicted. Of course, this is not really true.
This is by no means the last sacrament, but a healthy person should not take unction more than once a year. For those on their deathbed, it is imperative to go through three sacraments - confession (if he is able), communion and unction. Perhaps that is why this myth arose, but no one says that confession is only for the dying? Therefore, you should not be afraid of unction, because in addition to bodily diseases, there are also mental ones, which are also healed. And also there is a remission of sins that have not been said or forgotten.
Conclusion
So, now you know what unction is and how it is carried out. In conclusion, we can say that this is a very important rite for believers, as there is a complete forgiveness of all forgotten sins, as well as spiritual and physical healing. Of course, this is possible only on condition of sincere repentance and faith in the power and omnipotence of the Almighty.
As for the actual absolution of sins, there is a caveat here. If you hid something at confession (and they gather only after it), then there will be no forgiveness for such deeds or thoughts. Sins must be really forgotten by a person - voluntarily or involuntarily. The one who regularly confesses, undergoes the sacrament of unction (and not only), can help not only himself, but also other people who are related to him. Thus, turning to the Lord in prayer and hoping for his mercy, attending church and analyzing your life and actions will help you be saved and cleansed of sins.
During Great Lent, the Sacrament of Unction is performed in many churches. What does it mean? When do you need to meet and how often? Is it possible, after a meeting, to forget about all diseases? these and other questions are answered by Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Rector of the University Church of the Martyr Tatiana.- Father Maxim, what is Unction?
Unction, or as it is also called the Consecration of the Unction, is a Church Sacrament in which, when the body is anointed with specially consecrated oil (oil), the grace of God is called upon a person, healing the infirmities of the soul and body. The establishment of the Sacrament dates back to apostolic times. The letter of the Apostle James says: “Is any of you sick, let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven"(James 5:14-15)
In addition to bodily healing, the Sacrament also asks for forgiveness of sins - for most diseases are the result of sin, while sin itself is a spiritual disease. According to the explanation of the teachers of the Church, sins forgotten (but not deliberately hidden at confession!), For example, because of their insignificance for a person, are forgiven during the Consecration of the Unction. However, the totality of these sins can be a heavy burden on the soul and cause not only frustration spiritual health, but also, as a consequence, bodily diseases.
The consecration of the Unction is called Unction because, according to the charter of the Church, it is supposed to be performed by seven priests (a council of clergymen). The number seven is a symbolic sign of the Church and her fullness; that is why the very following of the Sacrament consists in reading, after certain prayers, seven different passages from the Apostle and the Gospel, telling about repentance, about healing, about the need for faith and hope in God, about compassion and mercy. After each such reading and prayer appeal to God for the remission of the sins of the patient, he is anointed with consecrated oil (oil) mixed with wine - that is, the anointing is also performed seven times. However, the Church allows the celebration of the Sacrament by three, two, and even one priest - so that he performs it on behalf of the council of priests, says all the prayers, performs readings and anoints the sick seven times.
- In what cases does a person need to consult? Until now, it is widely believed that Unction is performed only before death.
- The anointing of the Unction is performed on Orthodox believers older than seven years old, suffering from bodily and mental illnesses. The latter can also be understood as a difficult spiritual state (despondency, sorrow, despair) - because the cause of it can be (and, as a rule, there are) unrepentant sins, perhaps not even realized by a person. Consequently, the Sacrament can be performed not only over those suffering from severe bodily ailments or dying. In addition, few people living in our time can consider themselves absolutely physically healthy even in the absence of serious illnesses ... The Unction is not performed on the sick who are in an unconscious state, as well as on violent mental patients.
The sacrament can take place both in the temple and in other conditions. According to the established tradition, the common Unction in many churches takes place on the days of Great Lent, first of all - on the Cross or on Holy Week evening before Maundy Thursday or Holy Saturday.
— And how should one prepare for the Unction?
- Special preparation before the Sacrament is not necessary, but it will be useful and reasonable to combine it with confession and with the acceptance of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, because according to the faith of the Church in the Unction, forgiveness of sins we have forgotten is also given, and naturally, the person who confessed sincerely cleansed his soul repentance, he will get together with greater benefit for himself. how special case it can also be said that, apart from very special situations, women in a period of regular weakness do not proceed to the Unction, as well as to any other Sacrament. The Consecration of the Unction, unless there is a particularly serious illness or grave circumstances, should be undertaken no more than once a year.
— Do the words of the Apostle James quoted by you: “if anyone falls ill, let him call for presbyters…” mean that Orthodox Christians do not need health care? Is healing only possible through spiritual means such as unction?
— No, of course, the Consecration of the Unction as spiritual healing does not eliminate the laws and forces of physical nature. It spiritually supports a person, provides him with grace-filled help to the extent that, according to the care of God, is necessary for the salvation of the soul of the patient. Therefore, Unction does not abolish the use medicines.
- How to properly use the oil taken in the temple after the Unction, and what should be done with grains of wheat?
Oil can either be added to cooked food, or, in case of certain ailments, after praying, apply it on yourself crosswise. Grains of wheat, which are nevertheless used at the Unction to stick candles into them, standing on the central table, can be used absolutely own will. If you want - sprout, if you want - bake a pie from them, if there are enough of them - there are no indications of the church charter.
Unction (Consecration of the Unction) is often confused with Confirmation and with anointing during the All-Night Vigil. What are their differences?
— Confirmation and Unction are two completely different Sacraments. Chrismation is performed, as a rule, immediately after Baptism. And in it the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given, which help us grow and strengthen in that new spiritual life into which we have just been born at Baptism. In some special cases, Confirmation is performed separately; Suppose we accept into Orthodoxy a person from a heterodox denomination (for example, from traditional Protestants or from most Old Believer directions), whose Baptism we recognize as valid, but we do not consider other sacraments to be valid.
Undoubtedly, one should distinguish from both Sacraments that anointing with consecrated oil, which is performed during the Vespers, and which people only approaching the church fence or who have recently entered it sometimes take for some sacred action. This is only the anointing with holy oil, which was blessed by the previous Vespers, when the litiya was performed - part of the service, during which the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and loaves is performed. It is with this very consecrated oil that the anointing is performed at the All-Night Vigil. We repeat, this is not a sacrament of the Church.
priest Alexander Bogdan
Meeting by the rules
During Lent, in many churches, according to tradition, unction is performed, or in another way it is also called the Sacrament of the Unction. Many pamphlets and articles have already been written about the Sacrament itself, about its meaning and significance. I would like to talk about the practical side of the Sacrament.
And why do you really need to get together?
The archpriest expressed himself very well on this topic: “But we know,” he writes, “that every sacrament is always a transition and transformation ... Christ was asked for healing, and He forgave sins. They sought “help” from Him for our earthly life, and He transformed it, put it into communion with God. Yes, He healed the sick and raised the dead, but those healed and resurrected by him remained subject to the inexorable law of dying and death... The true healing of a person does not consist in restoration - for a while! - his physical health, but in changing, truly transforming his perception of illness, suffering and death itself ... The purpose of the sacrament is to change the very understanding, the very acceptance of suffering and illness, to accept them as a gift of the sufferings of Christ, translated by Him into victory. In other words, unction is necessary in order to strengthen a person in illness, to support him spiritually.
Are forgotten sins forgiven in the Mystery of the Unction?
For some reason, this opinion is now very common. It turns out that if a person forgets to name some sin at confession, then he will be forgiven him during another Sacrament. Some people generally began to think that it was even possible to hide during confession, that is, to hide their sins: “Anyway, then I’ll go and get together, and everything will be forgiven.” Those who think so are very much mistaken.
Isn't it only the sins mentioned above that are forgiven us at confession?
Think for yourself, can we list all our sins (usually called from the last confession)? Sometimes it's hard to keep everything in your memory. In this case, you can write everything down on a piece of paper and read it out at confession. However, when we make a list of our sins, we still won’t remember everything. Even if we keep a diary and write down everything in detail, in any case there are sins that we may not pay attention to or consider them to be sin. It turns out that no matter how hard you try, you cannot name all the sins at confession.
Then what happens to unnamed sins?
The current metropolitan said that during a lecture at the Moscow Theological Seminary, he expressed the idea that all sins are forgiven at confession to the penitent. One student objected and said that he would raise the creations of the holy fathers and prove the opposite. After six months of working in the library, this student approached Vladyka Hilarion and said: “You were right, all sins are forgiven.” If a person sincerely repents, then he receives forgiveness for all his sins. If some unnamed forgotten sin is of great concern, then people usually name it at the next confession.
For greater certainty, let us quote the words of the permissive prayer, which the priest reads after confession. “The Lord and our God Jesus Christ, by the grace and bounty of His philanthropy, may forgive you [you] child (name) all your sins. And I am [I] an unworthy priest, by His power given to me, I forgive and allow you [you] from all your sins."
What happens to the sins that we hide out of our own shame?
Before confession begins, the priest usually reads special prayers. One of them sounds like this: “Brothers and sisters, Christ is invisibly present, accepting your confession. Don't be shy and don't be afraid and don't hide nothing in confession. The priest is only a witness, testifying to everything you say. If you hide something double sin stays on you….»
So is it necessary then, before the unction, to confess?
It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. Traditionally, people usually go to confession, although no one forbids unction without having confessed the day before. If you are a church person, then you will regularly confess, and you will succeed by itself. If you are not yet completely churched, then you can confess before or immediately after the unction. The same is true with Communion.
Should you come on an empty stomach?
Not at all necessary. Quite often the Sacrament of the Unction is performed in the evening. Therefore, see that you do not faint from exhaustion. On an empty stomach, it is customary to proceed only to the Sacrament of Communion. You can even go to confession after having breakfast. Only after such a confession do not go to receive communion.
What to take with you?
You need to take patience with you, because the ceremony itself lasts at least an hour, or even two whole hours. You can, for example, take with you the text of the rites and follow in order to be more deeply imbued with the meaning of the Sacrament. There are translations into Russian on the Internet, for example, on the website in the section you can find all the sequence. Some people bring vessels of vegetable oil (oil). Preferably with an olive, because during the Flood the dove brought Noah an olive branch, and the oil symbolizes reconciliation with God. But since olive oil ours is not cheap, then you can use any other, for example, sunflower. The priest pours wine into the consecrated oil. In memory of the fact that the merciful Samaritan poured oil and wine to the wounded (). Therefore, do not bring bottles with blinds. At the end, you can take your oil home and anoint sore spots with it.
To not be left greasy spots on clothes, may come in handy paper napkins or you can rub the oil into the skin.
A candle, which is held in the hand during the Sacrament, can be purchased at the temple. Therefore, it is necessary not only not to be late, but to come early. It is also necessary to sign up, since during the prayer all those who gather are commemorated by name.
What to wear?
You need to dress in comfortable clothes. The forehead, nostrils, cheeks, mouth are anointed with oil, top part chest and palms on both sides. Of course, it would be unwise to wear a turtleneck sweater. I repeat once again that the upper part of the chest is anointed, so women do not need to come with a deep neckline. In addition, the handkerchief should be tied in such a way that it also does not interfere with the anointing.
Can children get together?
If the child is already at a conscious age, ready to listen to explanations and understand why it is necessary to take unction, then why not. Just see for yourself that you do not have to constantly be distracted from prayer, and make a remark to your baby that he is misbehaving. Not all children have enough endurance to stand exactly one and a half to two hours.
And the unbaptized can take unction?
In all mysteries and rites Orthodox Church only those who belong to the Orthodox Church can participate. An unbaptized person does not fall under this category, nor does a Catholic or a member of any other faith.
What is the most important thing in unction?
It is impossible in the Sacrament to single out something major, and something secondary. Those who think that the main thing is to "anoint" with oil argue incorrectly. Oil by itself has no magic power. If a person does not have faith, if during the unction he does not pray, and everything he reads goes past his ears, then for him the Sacrament becomes meaningless. Unction, like any Sacrament, should be approached with the fear of God and faith.
In church practice, there are many different rites and sacraments that have their own special purpose. One of them is the Unction. What it is, how the ceremony takes place, how to prepare for it and what you need to know - all this will be discussed in this article.
What it is?
Before figuring out how to prepare for Unction, it is worth understanding what it is. So, the Unction (or Unction) is a special one that is intended for the mentally ill or people with serious illnesses for their healing. Everything happens through the sevenfold anointing with oil, as well as the reading of special prayers. Why does this sacrament bear such a name - Unction? Because this requires several priests, that is, a cathedral.
Why is this needed?
It is worth saying that the diseases themselves, according to the religious version, are the result of the sinful life of a person. This rite is intended primarily to forgive sins and through this to heal the patient from an illness. However, the question may arise: is there a sacrament of confession for the remission of sins? But there are sins that a person forgot or did not mention, or does not even consider his action sinful. All these nuances are taken into account at the sacrament of Unction.
To whom is it available?
Who can congregate? So, this is any baptized Orthodox person. However, children under 7 years of age are not subjected to this sacrament. It is worth mentioning that most people have the wrong opinion that only the dying are subject to Unction, who need to have their sins forgiven (variation: after unction, a person in short terms will die). This is not at all the case, this sacrament is intended to cleanse from sins and return to life, and not send a person to another world.
Training
So, how to prepare for the Unction correctly? What do you need to know for this?
- It is very important to receive the priest's blessing for such an important ordinance.
- We need to know when it will be held. You will also need to sign up for a queue.
- Purchase a candle from the candle shop at the church.
- Bring a bottle to the temple vegetable oil and a napkin (for wiping the remnants of oil).
- Better to confess first.
Time frame
So, Convocation. When is this ordinance performed? It is worth saying that during Great Lent it can be held several times. However, situations are possible when this rule is deviated from, and the sacrament is performed when a person absolutely needs it.
Place
How to prepare for the Unction? So, you need to know where this sacrament can take place. During Lent, the priest conducts all actions in the temple. If a person does not have the opportunity to reach the church, then the Unction can be held at home, at the bedside of the sick or dying.
How does the sacrament itself take place?
Having figured out how to prepare for the Unction, information about how exactly the sacrament itself takes place will also be important for many. So, the clergyman will read seven texts from the Gospel and the Apostolic Epistles. After each reading, the priest must necessarily anoint the forehead, cheeks, hands and chest of the person being unctioned with sacred oil - oil. After reading the last verse, the priest places the opened Gospel on the patient's head and prays for the forgiveness of all his sins.
Nuances
People may also have other questions about this ordinance. So, how else should the preparation for the Unction proceed?
About oil
If the Unction was held in 2014, what should be done with the oil that is left? How long can it be used? It is believed that it does not have an expiration date. From time to time, a person himself can cross-smear his sore spots with it. You can also add it to food. The clergy say that if oil is used with faith and reverence, then the grace of God will descend on each such person.
During Great Lent, the Sacrament of Unction is performed in many churches. What does it mean? When do you need to meet and how often? How to prepare for it? And is it possible to perform this Sacrament at home?
“Is any of you sick, let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15).
Unction is not performed on babies because a baby cannot have consciously committed sins.
No other sacrament is associated with so many superstitions and prejudices as with unction. They say that after unction one should not marry, one should not bathe, one should not eat meat, one should fast on Mondays; and most importantly, that only the dying can receive this sacrament. All this is not true!
This is not a farewell to the next world but the healing for this life is in repentance. It originates from the apostles, who, having received authority from Jesus Christ, “ many sick people were anointed with oil and healed” (Mk. VI, 13).
Sacrament of Unction, one of the seven sacraments of the Church, consisting in helping the sick, hoping for recovery from bodily and spiritual ailments, and grants the sick forgiveness of forgotten unconfessed sins (but not consciously hidden). Due to the imperfection of memory, a person may not confess all his sins, therefore it is not worth saying how great the value of Unction is. The Sacrament of Unction exists in the Church for this, so that a person, starting to heal the body, does not forget about the soul and the cause of illness - sin.
The 19th-century Orthodox writer Yevgeny Poselyanin wrote: It is not at all said that the disease must be fatal or that the person be in a helpless state. We must not forget that in Christianity spiritual suffering is also recognized as a disease... So, if I suffer in spirit from the death of loved ones, from grief, if I need some kind of grace-filled push in order to gather my strength and remove the fetters of despair, I can resort to the assembly."
Confirmation is often confused with unction. Anointing with consecrated oil, which is performed during the Vespers, is not a Church Sacrament.
Besides this, Unction, as spiritual medicine, does not eliminate the forces and laws of physical nature. It supports a person spiritually, providing him with grace-filled help, to the extent that, according to God's care, this is necessary for the salvation of the sick. So Unction does not abolish the use of drugs, by the Lord of data, for the healing of our diseases.
But before you take part in this Sacrament, you need to come early and prepare. The performance of this Sacrament is paid. But it is necessary not only to pay, but also to ENTER YOUR NAME to the meeting list. Then the priest will read these names several times during the celebration of the Sacrament of Unction. Therefore, you must first go to the church shop.
Also need buy a candle, which you will hold in your hands during the entire Sacrament of the Unction, which lasts about 1 - 1.5 hours.
Also before take either 2 large handkerchiefs or 2 pieces of absorbent cloth (gauze)- one will be needed in order to wipe excess oil from the hands and face, the other to fix it on the neck so that oil does not drip onto clothes.
Women need to take more and headscarf(considering that the face will be oily and it will be very difficult to fix the hair).
They also usually bring bottle of oil(at your discretion, large and small, homemade oil or from the store). And put on the unction table (in the center).
You have to dress like this so that the neck is well open and it is possible to unbutton the blouse on the chest - they will anoint with oil. Hangers and fringes should not hang from the sleeves - the back of the palms will also be anointed. Forehead must be open for the same.
Don't wear gold on the neck and fingers, the bracelets will also get dirty and interfere.
After unction, don't forget to pick up your bottle of oil.
This oil can be added little by little to food. You can also anoint (crosswise) sick parts of the body with consecrated oil. This oil, like cereals, is used little by little throughout the year - until the next post.
Burn the used oil bottle. Do the same with handkerchiefs and rags with which you wiped excess oil on your face during the Unction.
Unction usually performed in the temple, but if it is impossible to deliver a seriously ill person, it may be taught at home.
When the sacrament is performed at home, it is necessary to do the following preparations: in the patient's room, in front of the icons, put a table covered with a clean tablecloth. A dish with grains of wheat is placed on the table (in the absence of it, it can be replaced with other cereals: rye, millet, rice, etc.).
In the middle of the dish, a lamp-shaped vessel (or just a clean glass) is placed on the wheat to consecrate the oil. Seven candles are placed in the wheat. In separate vessels (bowls or glasses) clean oil and a little red wine are placed on the table.
How does congregation take place?
In the center of the temple is placed a lectern with the Gospel. Next to it is a table on which stands a vessel of oil on a platter of wheat. Seven lit candles and seven brushes for anointing are placed in wheat - according to the number of passages from the Holy Scriptures read.
All congregants hold lit candles in their hands. This is our witness that Christ is the light in our lives.
With the exclamation “Blessed be our God now, and forever, and forever and ever,” the prayer begins with the listing of the names of those assembled. Then the priest pours wine into a vessel with oil and prays for the consecration of the oil, for the sake of healing and cleansing the flesh and spirit of those who will be anointed with it.
Wine is poured into oil in memory of the merciful Samaritan, about whom the Lord spoke in His parable: how a certain Samaritan took pity on a man beaten and robbed by robbers, and “ bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine” (Luke 10:34), and the wine added to it in a small amount symbolizes Redemptive Blood of the Savior. The combination of oil and wine is done in imitation of the medicine that the Samaritan used for the sick.
In addition to wine and oil, grains of wheat or millet are used when performing the Sacrament of Meeting. These grains symbolize the germ of life, and after the death of the body - resurrection.
So, chants sound, these are prayers addressed to the Lord and the saints, who became famous for miraculous healings. This is followed by a reading of a passage from the Epistles of the Apostles and the Gospel, which tells us about miraculous healings diseases. After that, the priests of each crosswise anoint the forehead, nostrils, cheeks, lips, chest and hands with consecrated oil on both sides. This is done as a sign of purification of all our five senses, thoughts, hearts and works of our hands - all that we could sin with.
Said in sequence: “ Thou hast given to the holy oil the image of Thy Cross” shows that the believer’s very illnesses are mysteriously united with Christ’s sufferings, serving as a painful but beneficial reminder of them, true compassion, and during spiritual feat and prayer and communion of His sufferings.
Before each anointing, the priest pours out his soul in prayer before the Lord, feeling his unworthiness and the greatness of the sacrament, and the needs of the sick, as a mirror of his own infirmities, and recalls the numerous examples of pardon for sinners and healing in the Old and New Testaments.
With each anointing, a prayer is read: “ Holy Father, doctor of souls and bodies, sending your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who heals every ailment and delivers from death, heal your servant (or your servant) from obscuring (covering) his (or her) bodily and spiritual infirmities and make him (or her) alive by the grace of your Christ”… This is followed by a prayerful invocation Holy Mother of God, the Life-Giving Cross, John the Baptist, the apostles and all the saints.
During the anointing of oil, the rector of the temple on his knees reads a prayer for the granting of health and lists the names of people who are now participating in the Sacrament of the Unction.
Then the priests return to their places. Prayers are read again, special hymns are sung, and again passages (but already different) from the Apostles and the Holy Gospel are read. After that, the priests again anoint the forehead, nostrils, cheeks, lips, chest and hands on both sides with holy oil.
And so only seven times. Each time, different passages from the Apostles and the Holy Gospel are read. (What passages from the Apostles and the Holy Gospel are read, what is the meaning of these readings - read below)
The Consecration of the Unction ends with the laying of the Gospel on their heads, holding it down with letters, as if the healing hand of the Savior Himself - on the head of the sick person and at the same time prays to the Lord for the forgiveness of all his sins: “ Lord Jesus Christ, I do not place my sinful hand on the heads of those who come to You to ask for forgiveness of sins; but Thy hand is strong and strong, which is in this Holy Gospel, and I pray Thee with them, our Savior, yourself receive Thy penitent servants and give them forgiveness ...”
An immediate recovery cannot be expected from Unction. Alas, sometimes in the minds of people this sacrament turns into something self-sufficient, external, almost magical. Some people perceive Unction as a medical procedure, there is no thought about its spiritual aspect ... The consequences here can be very sad - not having received the expected bodily recovery, a person is offended: how is it, I defended a long service, did everything that was supposed to, but there is no result !
Grace in any case acts through the consecrated oil, but this action is revealed, according to the will of God, unequally: some are completely healed, others receive relief, in others, strength is awakened for the complacent transfer of the disease. Forgiveness of sins, forgotten or unconscious, is always granted to the one who gathers together.
Healing is a free gift from an all-good loving God, and not the inevitable result of some external action. This must be remembered by all who approach the sacrament of Unction. You need to think about your life, about your sins, strive to be cleansed of them. The Sacrament of Unction is partly akin to the Sacrament of Repentance. As a special case, it can also be said that, apart from very special situations, women in a period of regular weakness do not proceed to unction, as well as to any other sacrament.
READING OF THE APOSTLES AND THE HOLY GOSPEL AT THE UNION
First reading- Epistles of the holy Apostle James about the establishment of the Mystery of the Unction (James 5, 10-16). The Gospel (Luke 10:25-37) about a Samaritan who had mercy on his neighbor, who was wounded by thieves. After that, remembering the blessings of God to the human race, enlightened and redeemed by Him, and the grace of service given to the prophets and apostles.
Second reading- Rome. 15:1-7, where the Apostle Paul commands the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak and, following the example of Christ, to please not themselves, but their neighbor, for good, calling on God for patience and comfort. He inspires that all members of the Body of Christ should praise God with one accord.
In the second Gospel (Lk. 19:1-10) it is about the publican Zacchaeus, who converted to the faith when Jesus Christ visited him.
Third reading- 1 Cor. 12:27-13, 8, where the various ministries of the members of the Church of Christ are first counted, and then love is exalted above all else as the main goal and means of the Christian life. The Third Gospel (Matt. 10:1:5-8) tells of sending the disciples to preach in Judea, when the Lord gave them the power to cast out unclean spirits, heal every disease, and raise the dead.
Fourth reading- 2 Cor. 6, 16-7, 1 - the Apostle Paul calls the believers the temples of the Living God and calls them to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, "perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
In the subsequent gospel reading (Matt. 8, 14-23), the Savior Himself tells of the healing by the Savior of Peter's mother-in-law, who was lying in a fever, as well as many possessed, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, who says: “He took upon Himself our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” ( Isaiah 53:4).
Fifth apostolic reading - 2 Cor. 1:8-11 - the apostle Paul sets as an example his deliverance by the Lord in the midst of persecution, when he no longer hoped to stay alive, and commands to trust in God.
In the corresponding Gospel (Matt. 25:1-13) the parable of the Lord is given about five wise and five foolish virgins who did not prepare oil for the meeting of the Bridegroom and therefore remained outside the wedding feast - the Kingdom of Heaven. “Therefore, watch, because you do not know either the day or the hour in which the Son of Man will come,” the Lord calls at the end of this parable.
in the sixth reading of the Apostle - Gal. 5, 22-6, 2 - the apostle Paul counts spiritual fruits, inspiring pastors to correct those who sin in the spirit of meekness. “Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ,” he exhorts.
The Gospel of Matthew (15:21-28), which is read later, tells of the great faith of the Canaanite wife, who boldly asked for the health of her daughter.
A series of readings from the Epistles of the Holy Apostle Paul ends with a passage from 1 Thess. 5:6-19, containing the apostle's call to the faithful to comfort the faint-hearted, to support the weak, to forgive evil. “Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit,” he calls to our hearts.
Finally, the holy evangelist Matthew(9, 9-13) tells how he was called from a publican by the Lord and became an apostle, and cites the words of Jesus Christ to the Pharisees who murmured against Him: “The healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick; go and learn what it means: I want mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
ABOUT UNION IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- In what cases does a person need to confer? Until now, it is widely believed that Unction is performed only before death.
- The anointing of the Unction is performed on Orthodox believers over the age of seven who suffer from bodily and mental illnesses. The latter can also be understood as a difficult spiritual state (despondency, grief, despair), because the cause of it can be (and, as a rule, there are) unrepentant sins, perhaps not even realized by a person. Consequently, the Sacrament can be performed not only over those suffering from severe bodily ailments or dying. In addition, few people living in our time can consider themselves absolutely physically healthy even in the absence of serious illnesses ... The Unction is not performed on the sick who are in an unconscious state, as well as on violent mental patients.
The sacrament can take place both in the temple and in other conditions. According to the established tradition, the common Unction in many churches takes place on the days of Great Lent.
— How often can one resort to the Tanistry of Unction?
—The Consecration of the Unction, unless there is a particularly serious illness or grave circumstances, should be undertaken no more than once a year.
- And how should one prepare for the Unction?
- There is no need for special preparation before the Sacrament, but it would be useful and reasonable to combine it with confession and with the reception of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, because according to the faith of the Church in Unction, forgiveness of sins we have forgotten is also given, and, naturally, the person who confessed sincerely cleansed his soul with repentance, he will gather with greater benefit for himself. As a special case, it can be said that, apart from very special situations, women during a period of regular weakness do not proceed to the Unction, as well as to any other Sacrament.
- Do the words of the Apostle James you quoted mean: “If anyone falls ill, let him call for elders…” that Orthodox Christians do not need medical assistance at all? Is healing possible only through spiritual means, such as unction?
- No, of course, the Consecration of the Unction as spiritual healing does not eliminate the laws and forces of physical nature. It spiritually supports a person, provides him with grace-filled help to the extent that, according to the care of God, is necessary for the salvation of the soul of the patient. Therefore, Unction does not abolish the use of medicines.
– How to properly use the oil taken in the temple after the Unction, and what should be done with grains of wheat?
- Oil can either be added to cooked food, or, in case of certain ailments, after praying, apply it on yourself crosswise. It can also be used by those who have not taken unction (there are no indications in the charter that this is prohibited), but only this does not replace participation in the Sacrament. But it happens that people forget about it, and then people ask what to do with rancid oil. So next time, do not be embarrassed if everyone will take, and you will not have such a need - this is not necessary. Burn the used oil bottle. Do the same with handkerchiefs and rags with which you wiped excess oil on your face during the Unction.
Grains of wheat, which are nevertheless used at the Unction to stick candles into them, standing on the central table, can be used absolutely at one's own request. If you want - germinate, if you want - bake a pie from them, if there are enough of them - there are no indications of the church charter.
– Unction (Consecration of the Unction) is often confused with Confirmation and with anointing during the All-Night Vigil. What are their differences?
- Confirmation and Unction of the Sick are two completely different Sacraments. Confirmation is performed, as a rule, immediately after Baptism. And in it the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given, which help us grow and strengthen in that new spiritual life into which we have just been born. In some special cases, Confirmation is performed separately; Suppose we accept into Orthodoxy a person from a heterodox denomination (for example, from traditional Protestants or from most Old Believer directions), whose Baptism we recognize as valid, but we do not consider other sacraments to be valid.
Undoubtedly, one should distinguish from both Sacraments that anointing with consecrated oil, which is performed during the Vespers and which people who have just approached the church fence or have recently entered it, sometimes take it for some sacred action. This is only the anointing with holy oil, which was blessed by the previous vigil, when the litiya was performed - part of the service, during which the blessing of wheat, wine, oil and loaves is performed. It is with this very consecrated oil that the anointing is performed on all-night vigil. We repeat, this is not a sacrament of the Church.
