Holy unction
Holy unction (ευχέλαιον) is one of the seven sacraments preformed and recognized by the Eastern orthodox church on Holy Wednesday, It however may be preformed on another date if the person requesting it is immediate need of it or extremely sick. Holy Unction unlike Communion or Baptism is not Obligatory in The Eastern Orthodox church. It may only be preformed on Orthodox Christians. In Greek it is translated to "Blessed" or "holy oil". The ritual sacrament is ideally carried out by seven Priests. However, it may also be carried out by one in the lack of clergy.It also calls for seven readings from the Epistles and Gospels and seven prayers.One must note the sanctivity of the number seven it is universaly symbolic in christian Theology for it took Six days to create the earth on the seventh God rested on .The priest anoints the person on the chest, hands, eye lids, and nose. The anointing oil is usually olive oil but other oils can presumably be used. Some Eastern orthodox believe this ritual heals spiritual emotional or bodily affliction, however it also is for the forgiveness of sins and arguably a form of atonement. This act is preformed throughout the Orthodox Church not just in Greece although the word is respective. the holy uction is also a catholic sacrament and is simalarly carried out however in the catholic church one must be in order to receive unction, be of the age of reason, be ashamed of past sins and submit one self to gods will and be in divine grace due to penance.
See also
References
- Holy Unction Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
- The Sacrament of Holy Unction by The Right Reverend Michael D. Jordan
- The Orthodox Faith: Holy Unction Orthodox Church in America
- http://www.global.org/Pub/OCC_Unction.asp