The Holy Unction.

        Holy Unction is the Sacrament in the administration of which a sick person is anointed with holy oil, while the grace of the Holy Spirit is invoked on him, which healeth sickness, both bodily and spiritual. The oil for this Sacrament is consecrated by prayer, and it should be, according to the canons of the Church, performed by seven priests; but in case of need, one priest suffices.

        A dish with wheat is placed upon a table. Into the midst of the wheat is placed a vessel containing oil and red wine, and around the dish are positioned seven candles and seven bodkins or twigs like those used in the rites of baptism and chrismation, wrapped around with cotton. Upon the same table are placed a Cross and Gospel. The grains of wheat symbolize resurrection and regeneration;* the oil — healing by the grace of God, and the red wine, mixed with the oil, indicate that the grace of God is given us for Christ’s sake, who shed His blood on the Cross for our salvation. The seven candles symbolize the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. During the performance of the sacramental rites the patient (if he be able) and the bystanders hold in their hands lighted candles.

        The service begins with the singing of a prayer for the healing of the patient. It consists principally of a canon which is sung with the refrain: “O Lord of many mercies, heal thy suffering servant N.” Then the Great Ectenia is recited, with added petitions for the blessing of the oil by the descent of the Holy Spirit, and for the granting to the sufferer of the grace of the Holy Spirit. After this the priest prays “that the Lord may sanctify this oil, so that it may be to those anointed with it for healing and deliverance from all passion, all defilement of flesh and spirit and from all evil.”

        The consecration of the oil is followed by the reading of seven Epistle readings, seven Gospel readings, the Triple Ectenia, seven times repeated, seven prayers for the healing of the sick man and the remission of his sins, lastly anointment of his body with the consecrated oil. After each reading from the Epistle and from the Gospel, and the ectenia, one of the priests, with a prayer for the recovery of the patient, takes up one of the bodkins, dips it in the oil and wine, and anoints him crosswise on the forehead, nostrils, cheeks, lips, breast and hands, uttering the while the sacramental words: “Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies, do Thou heal thy servant N. of the spiritual and bodily infirmities which possess him and quicken him with the grace of Thy Christ.” After the seventh anointment, the patient rises up and stands in the midst of the priests, or, if he is unable to rise, the priests come and stand around his bed. Then the senior priest takes the Gospel, opens and holds it, text downward, as it were Christ’s own hand, upon the patient’s head and recites a prayer for the remission of his sins. The patient kisses the Gospel, and, after hearing the dismissal, asks a blessing of the priests: “Bless, holy fathers, me, a sinner.”

        The Sacrament of Holy Unction is administered to persons suffering from severe illness; but it is not necessary that the patient should have reached utter exhaustion or unconsciousness. This Sacrament may be administered more than once. One to whom health has been restored after receiving Holy Unction is not pledged thereby (as some have mistakenly averred) to renounce the world, to take monastic vows, and to devote the rest of his days to perpetual penance and fasting.

Note— Holy Unction Publicly Administered:— In the Church of the Dormition, at Moscow, on Holy Thursday before the Liturgy, the bishop administers Holy Unction to persons perhaps healthy in body, but morally suffering from spleen, despondency, and desirous of receiving it in view of the uncertainty of the hour of death. The bishop consecrates the oil and pours some red wine into it. Then follows the readings from the Epistles and the Gospels. Of the prayers only the seventh is recited. After that the bishop stirs the oil and wine with the sacramental spoon, pours out the mixture into small vessels, then anoints on the forehead first himself, then the priests and deacons, then distributes the vessels among the priests, who anoint the people. When this is done the bishop recites the prayer for the remission of sins while the priests hold over his head the open Gospel text downward.

Ed. Note:— In the present time (2001), the practice of the public administration of Holy Unction at some time during Great Lent, according, more or less, to the full rite of the sacrament, is also followed in many places.