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 difficult 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.

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 with vegetable oil(oil). Preferably with olive, because the dove during global flood It was the olive branch that Noah brought to Noah, and the oil symbolizes reconciliation with God. But since our olive oil is not cheap, 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 avoid greasy stains on clothes, paper napkins may come in handy, 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, upper chest and palms are anointed with oil 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 itself does not have any magical 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.

sick and healthy

An almost comical delusion is connected with the sacrament of Unction.

If today a person of little church (but familiar with Russian literature) is offered to take unction or unction of ailing relatives, he may recoil in embarrassed fright. This is understandable: back in the 19th century, the words “already unction” meant “ends”. At that time, it was mainly the hopelessly ill or the dying who were unctioned - remember the old man Count Bezukhov from Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace".

But the original and main goal of Unction is healing from the disease. However, a person is ill not only with the body, but also with the soul, and many diseases of the body are the consequences of a disease of the soul. The soul is ill from sins (or their consequences).

Therefore, the main meaning of the sacrament of Unction is that when a person is anointed with consecrated oil (oil), the grace of God is called to heal or weaken both bodily and mental illnesses, as well as the remission of sins forgotten without malicious intent.

“The power of the Sacrament of Unction is that they are especially forgiven sins forgotten due to human weakness, and after the forgiveness of sins, bodily health is also granted, if God wills it,” wrote Rev. Ambrose Optinsky.

Therefore, for healthy people, especially during Great Lent - the time of a special struggle with sin - Unction helps to recover in soul, gives strength not to lose heart and fight for their salvation. Hence the tradition to celebrate Unction during Great Lent in order to meet Easter with a “pure heart”.

History of the sacrament

Like any Sacrament of the Church, the unction (this is also the name of the sacrament of the Unction, from the Greek words “oil” - “elaioa” and “mercy” - “eleos”) originates in gospel story. Christ healed the sick and commanded the apostles to do the same. The apostles passed this gift on to bishops and priests.

Already in the Epistle of the Apostle James we read: “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 5:14-16).

In the first centuries of Christianity, when a person was sick, priests came to him for seven days, prayed for his recovery, read the Gospel and anointed him with consecrated oil. Some of the sick, in order to pray over him for health in a particularly fertile place, they began to specially bring to the temple and pray there and anoint them with holy oil. This is how the service of the sacrament of Unction in the temple gradually developed.

What sins are forgiven in the sacrament of Unction?

We usually go to confession for the forgiveness of sins. But everyone has sins that we do not realize due to inattention to what is happening in our soul, the lack of the skill of introspection. Either, having sinned, we immediately forget it, or we do not consider it a sin at all.

But unconscious sins are still sins, they burden the soul, and it is necessary to cleanse oneself of them - which is exactly what happens in the sacrament of Unction.

If we participate consciously in the sacrament of Unction, understanding what will happen to us now, then we will definitely receive the forgiveness of such unconfessed (against our will) sins. After a person has been unction in the temple (it can be shortly before the Unction), it is very good to confess. After the Unction and confession, it is very important to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

How to prepare for the sacrament of the Unction?

You need to sign up for the Unction on the day of the Unction in the porch of the temple: you name your name and buy a candle (it is lit during the reading of the Gospel). According to tradition, for the Unction, you can bring a sacrifice to the temple. A council of priests prays for the people recorded in the notebook (hence the name of the Sacrament - “Unction”). If necessary, the Sacrament can be performed by one priest.

During the Unction, the forehead, cheeks, nostrils, lips, neck, and hands are cross-anointed seven times. These parts of the body symbolize the most convenient "paths" for sin (mind, word, feeling, deed).

It is better to come in clothes with an open collar.

After each anointing, you can wash the oil with a napkin. But you can’t throw it away: either burn it yourself, or give it to the temple for burning. Children are united from the age when they can independently confess their sins.

How is the Assembly going?

The anointing is only one part of the Unction service. Prior to this, oil, wine and grain are prepared for the Sacrament, a prayer is read for the consecration of oil and grain. Wheat grains symbolize new life- after recovery and after general resurrection. Oil is a sign of the grace of healing, according to the gospels: “They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed” (Mark 6:13).

Before the anointing, the priest reads the main prayer of the Sacrament - the prayer for the granting of healing to the sick and the forgiveness of sins "Holy Father".

At the same time, the priests commemorate the names of those recorded for the Unction. Anointed with holy oil seven times.

Before each anointing, a passage from the Apostle and the Gospel is read. All these readings are about how to endure trials in life. While reading, light your own candle.

During the anointing, the choir and all those praying sing: “Hear us, O God. Hear us, Lord. Hear us, Holy One." At the end of the Unction, the Gospel is laid on the heads of the anointed with the reading prayer of repentance. After the service, you can take home the remaining grain (and add it to food), oil - to be anointed and poured into lamps.

We offer detailed photo essay with an audio recording of some fragments of the Unction with detailed comments.

All responsibility for the preparation for the Unction rests with the altar boy. At the fraternal unction (it is performed by the priests of the Brotherhood of the All-Merciful Savior), there will be many priests. The altar boy will have to be especially quick and attentive. Everything should be beautiful and decorous. Candles, seven in number, should stand beautifully on a special dish. To do this, they must all be the same length.

In the vestibule they write down the names of all who will be unction. A council of priests will pray for these people, perform the sacrament of Unction over them by the power of the entire Church. According to tradition, for unction, you can make a sacrifice to the temple

Everything is ready on the kliros

And the altar boy prepared everything you need

And so the candles are lit. Around the dish are seven candles depicting the number of performers of the sacrament, anointings and prayers. After each anointing, one candle is extinguished.

The priests leave the altar. The first part of the mystery begins

The priests stand around the table. The first of the priests censes the table (and the oil on it), icons and all the people, utters an exclamation: “Blessed be our God…”

Since the candlesticks were taken out of the temple, everyone lights candles from the altar candle

From one candle, all the others were lit, and soon the whole temple was filled with lights. After the usual beginning, an abbreviated Six Psalm (Psalm 142) is read, then a small litany (petition), and finally penitential troparia, which we all know: “Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us”

After the 50th psalm, the canon of Arsenius, Bishop of Corfu, is read; this canon in the 9th century. supplemented the already existing seven prayers recited during the anointing

Then the second part of the service begins - the consecration of the oil. First, wine is combined with oil. Now there is wine in the kandila (vessel) with oil

After the litany, the first of the priests reads the "Prayer over the candila with oil", in which he asks God to sanctify the oil and make it healing for the anointed one. The rest of the priests read the same prayer quietly, as during the invocation of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of the Eucharist. The choir at this time sings troparia to Christ the Savior, the Apostle James, St. Nicholas, the healer Panteleimon and other saints

Then the third part begins - the anointing with holy oil. First, they read the Gospel, then a special prayer for healing, then the actual anointing with the so-called fulfilling prayer: “Holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies…”. This prayer is very important. The rite of consecration of the Unction over a sick person who is in mortal danger can be recognized as perfect if the priest, after the consecration of the oil, has time, at least once, to read the perfect prayer and anointing over the sick person. If the fulfilling prayer is said over one person, the anointing is performed after the words: "Heal Thy servant ...". This sequence is repeated seven times. If there are a lot of people over whom the sacrament is being performed, then first they read the prayer for everyone, and then everyone is anointed with oil

Just before the anointing, but before the perfect prayer, the priest reads a special prayer for the granting of healing and forgiveness of sins to the sick. At the same time, all priests commemorate the names from those lists that were compiled in the vestibule

The Treasury says: “The priest will take (take) a pod (a stick wrapped in cotton wool, in this case a brush), and dipping it in holy oil (oil), will anoint the sick person crosswise - on the forehead, on the nostrils, on the cheeks (cheeks), on usteh (lips), on persekh (chest), on hands on both countries (on both sides). That is, the priest anoints with oil those parts of the body through which sin most conveniently enters into the human soul.

In the temple where mass unction is performed, after reading the Gospel, praying, performing prayer, the priests go out to the people with brushes and small cups with consecrated oil mixed with wine. They begin to anoint everyone in their "sector". For convenience, people stand in rows so that the priests can freely approach each one. At this time, the whole church sings the refrain: “Hear us, God. Hear us, Lord. Hear us, Holy One."

Usually, those who congregate prepare in advance for the anointing: they release their foreheads, unfasten their collars, and prepare their hands.

After each anointing, you can wash the oil with a napkin. But these napkins can't just be thrown away. You must either burn them yourself, or give them to the temple for burning.

The choir begins to sing the prokimen before the reading of the next Gospel, and next to it the anointing continues from the last reading

The grace-filled power of the sacrament is especially felt by those to whom it is directly shown—sick and infirm people. Previously, this sacrament was not performed on healthy people. During the synodal period, as an exception, on Maundy Thursday, it was performed at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and at the Moscow Assumption Cathedral. Dimitry of Rostov explained such a departure as follows: if on Maundy Thursday, at the supper, Christ established the New Covenant of His Body and Blood, then on this day it may be decent for this to be unction before Communion even for healthy people, since they do not know the day and hour of his death. But, meaning by illness not only bodily ailments, but also the sinful state of the soul, in Optina Hermitage, the sacrament of the Unction was performed for the pilgrims several times a week

After the seventh anointing, the remnants of the holy oil are poured back into the vessel. This oil cannot be used for any other anointing, but it must be burned (usually in a temple in a lamp or in a censer). If the rite was performed over a dying patient and the patient died, then the priest pours the rest of the holy oil on him crosswise during burial

And now the Gospels and Crosses are prepared for the final part of the sacrament.

The Gospel is placed on the head of the patient with letters down, as if the hand of the Lord Himself. First, the gospel is entrusted to the heads of the priests. (They also participated in the sacrament) All the priests hold the Gospel together, and each in turn enters under the formed vault. At this time, the leading priest reads a permissive prayer aloud, which says: “O Holy King ... I do not place my sinful hand on the head of the one who came to You in sins ... but Your hand is strong and strong, even in this Holy Gospel, hedgehog my fellow servants hold on the head of your servant…”

Then all the priests, passing through the rows of those standing, lay the Gospel on the head of each and let them kiss the Cross.

This is how the sacrament ends, in which, for the sake of the prayers of the Church, the Lord forgives us sins, gives us the strength not to lose heart and fight for our salvation, heals from bodily infirmities, and we, renewed, are preparing to unite with the Lord in the Communion of His Holy Divine Mysteries in order to be resurrected for a new life.

After the end of the Unction, the consecrated grain is distributed. There is no direction other than to burn it. But out of special piety, some believers take it home and eat it. This is the so-called "pious tradition".

Another pious tradition is to take consecrated oil and wine after the unction. As mentioned above, nothing can be anointed with it, but it can be burned in a lamp at home.

Leaving the temple, it is so pleasant to inhale the air, already filled with spring smells and feel the renewal not only in nature, but also in the soul itself.

I would like to know whether chrismation and anointing are one and the same or not? And what is the main meaning of these sacraments? Tatyana

Dear Tatyana!

Confirmation and unction are two completely different sacraments. The sacrament of chrismation is performed, as a rule, immediately after the sacrament of baptism, over an infant or over an adult. And in it the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given, which help us grow and strengthen in that new spiritual life into which, as a rule, we have just been born in the baptismal font. In some special cases, chrismation is performed separately. This, suppose, if we accept into Orthodoxy a person from a heterodox denomination, in which we recognize the validity of baptism, but do not consider other sacraments valid. Suppose - from traditional Protestants or from most of the Old Believer directions. Thus, the Holy Passion-bearer Empress Alexandra and her royal august sister, the Holy Martyr, were added to Orthodoxy. Grand Duchess Elizabeth.

The sacrament of unction or, in other words, unction is a sacrament that is performed over the sick, according to the word of the epistle of the Apostle James, so that, according to the faith of the Church, through the prayer of the Church, through the prayer of the presbyters of the church, the sick person receives healing or weakening in his spiritual ailments and bodily. The Church also believes that in this sacrament we are given forgiveness of forgotten, I emphasize, forgotten, and not specially concealed sins. As a rule, in the modern practice of our Church Orthodox Christian, even if he is not ill with something extraordinary, he tries to start the sacrament of anointing (unction) at least once a year, during Christmas or Great Lent.

Undoubtedly, one should distinguish from both sacraments the 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 perceive as some sacred action. This is only the anointing with holy oil, which was blessed by that previous Vespers, when the litia was performed; and during the litia, the blessing of wheat, wine, oil, and the offered loaves is performed. It is with this very consecrated oil that the anointing is performed in a regular manner at the All-Night Vigil. We repeat, it is not a sacrament of the Church. Prot. Maxim Kozlov

Is it wrong to say that only the dying are unctioned?

Sometimes people have rather strange ideas about Unction. For example, that only seriously ill people who are on the verge of death should resort to it. This is a relic of the non-Orthodox perception of the sacrament as the "last anointing" - which is completely inconsistent with Holy Scripture. After all, the apostles performed the anointing with oil precisely for the sake of healing.

But one cannot also expect an immediate recovery after the Unction. Alas, sometimes in the minds of people this sacrament turns into something self-sufficient, external, almost magical. When I see crowds of people coming to church for Unction, I wonder: do they all go to confession, take communion? Some of them 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 that I defended a long service, did everything that was supposed to, but the result no! As a result, people can grow cold towards faith, towards the Church.

Healing is a free gift of the All-Good loving God rather than 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. I think that it is necessary to say separately about the unction of people who are near death. Sometimes such people are afraid of this sacrament, believing that it will lead to an early death. But timing human life depend only on the will of a loving God, and the Lord often prolongs the life of a dying person for the very purpose that he can adequately prepare for the transition to Eternity - confession, communion and unction. Not infrequently, a priest called to a dying person performs these three sacraments at once, in succession. Unction for a dying person is absolutely necessary, because he often simply cannot physically confess - but the sacrament of the Unction will free him from the burden of those sins in which he would like, but did not have time, could not repent in the sacrament of Repentance.

Archpriest Valentin Asmus

Unction is taking place during Great Lent, tell me how to take unction correctly, is it necessary to confess before this or is it not necessary? And can everyone get together? Julia

Answer:

Dear Julia, Unction happens not only in Great Lent, but also in other fasts. It also happens after the conversion of people in certain ailments, for this is the sacrament, which is established in the Church so that we receive healing in our spiritual and bodily ailments. Undoubtedly, it will be useful and reasonable to combine the sacrament of unction with confession and with the acceptance 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 in the sacrament of repentance, the one with greater benefit for themselves and will settle down.

As for who can and who cannot approach the sacrament of Unction, then, of course, people who live a regular church life, for whom this is not just an accidental entry into the Church, but part of their spiritual sojourn, should begin unction. 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. Prot. Maxim Kozlov

Please tell me how to use the oil and wheat received after the Unction? Can oil be used by those who did not participate in the sacrament?

This is exactly what I would like to ask you - how are you going to use the oil and wheat received after the Unction? Because we distribute them only at the strong request of parishioners. And in ancient times, nothing was distributed after the unction, but everything was burned.

You can smear this oil on sore spots. 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 usually no one smears anything, and then people ask what to do with the 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. Sincerely, Priest Mikhail Nemnonov.

How often can you get together?

Traditionally, we meet every year. More frequent unction is hardly appropriate unless we have some sudden and serious illness. Sincerely, Priest Mikhail Nemnonov.

I know that unction is carried out for seriously ill people. Why is it healthy?
Sergey Fedorovich

According to the tradition existing in the Russian Orthodox Church, all Christians, even healthy ones, once a year, usually during Great Lent, come to the temple to perform the Sacrament of Unction over them. As wrote Orthodox writer XIX century, Yevgeny Poselyanin, “it is not at all said that the disease must be fatal, or that a person is 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 gathering. But even in bodily illness, a person needs to turn to God with prayer, not relying only on a doctor, who is an instrument of God's Providence.

In addition to healing from illnesses, the Sacrament of the Unction grants us the forgiveness of forgotten 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. Before the Unction, it is desirable to confess, and immediately after the Unction to take communion. Prot. Oleg Kudryakov

According to the materials and the magazine "Foma".

@daniilburov

The Orthodox and catholic church there are similar sacraments that are important for any believer. One of them is unction, or unction. This ancient rite, which came from the gospel times, today has undergone strong changes, but its meaning has remained the same.

What is it and what is it for?

The sacrament in Orthodoxy is associated with oil anointing, since oil is a special substance that Jesus Christ and his apostles once used to treat sick people. Unction can be carried out both in the temple and at home, if a person is not able to come to church. The main purpose of unction is to get rid of spiritual and bodily ailments, for which a spiritual father is invited. During the ceremony, the priest forgives the believer of the sins that he forgot, committed unconsciously, hid for any reason, or did not have time to confess in the temple.

The Sacrament is often performed by a “council,” that is, by several clergy, and is performed at any time of the year. But in most cases, in order to carry out the ceremony, people wait for Great Lent. During this period, a few days are allocated to have time to receive everyone. In 2019, the fast will last from March 11 to April 27.

Who can congregate?

Before convocation are allowed:

• people with serious illnesses;
• children from 7 years old;
• patients suffering from mental disorders (depression, despair, grief);
• people who are dying.

In what cases is it necessary to unction a person?

Many mistakenly think that the sacrament should be performed only when a person is preparing to leave for another world. This is far from true. Unction is not the absolution of sins before death, and even more so has nothing to do with the funeral. First of all, the sacrament is necessary for sick people, but if the ceremony is performed at home, then all family members are anointed with oil in order to bless them. Unction is available to any Christian from the age of 7. Each person can perform the sacrament, but not more than once a year during Great Lent or Christmas Lent.

Who is not allowed to be anointed with oil?

It is impossible to unction already dead people and those who are in an unconscious state, since the rite is performed only with a voluntary informed consent person. It is not allowed to perform the ceremony for violent mental patients, women during menstruation, and children under 7 years old, in contrast to the sacrament of baptism, which can be performed at any age. The younger ones are unctioned, but in rare cases, if the child is seriously ill.

How to prepare for the unction?

There is no need for special preparations, it is only desirable that a person confesses and takes communion, confessing to those offenses that he remembers. It is important to have faith and sincere repentance for the sin committed, the rite in this case will have the proper effect. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to mentally prepare for the sacrament and only then enlist the blessing of the priest. It is not obligatory to fast before the unction, unless it takes place in Great Lent.

You must write your name in advance and bring cahors, wheat and butter to the church. You need to choose the right clothes, which should be on buttons or other fasteners so that the priest can apply the oil. You will also need a small handkerchief to remove residual oil. After confession, it is imperative to take communion.

How does the ceremony take place?

The rite can be performed both in the temple and in another place.

In the Orthodox Church

Traditionally, the unction in the church takes place with the participation of 7 clergy. This number is due to the number of prayers and texts from the Gospel and the Apostle. This is also due to the fact that each person who comes is anointed with oil 7 times. In some cases, the ritual is allowed to be performed by 1 priest. Conventionally, the sacrament is divided into 3 parts:

• prayer chant;
• consecration of oil;
• anointing.

Before the unction begins, parishioners light candles, then prayers and hymns are read. The prayers mention the names of all the people who came to the anointing, which begins with the words: “Blessed is our God ...” In part 2, the oil is illuminated, for which olive oil and wine are mixed in one vessel, symbolizing the blood of Jesus, which was shed for the salvation of all people on earth. Then 7 candles are lit and a prayer is said.

In the final part of the sacrament, the priest anoints those assembled. At the same time they read the scriptures, a short litany and a prayer for the healing of believers and their forgiveness. This part is repeated 7 times, but passages from the Apostles and the Gospel are read differently. Then the congregation stand around the priests, who say a prayer and, in turn, put an open Gospel on each parishioner. After that everyone kisses Holy Bible, there are litanies and bows of those who have passed through the sacrament.

at home

If a person cannot come to the temple, then the unction takes place at home, in the room where the icons of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God hang. The ceremony is almost no different from holding it in the church. At the sacrament, close relatives are present, whom the priest also anoints with oil. Before you start, you need to prepare:

• table, clean tablecloth;
• wheat or other grains lying on a saucer, which will symbolize the healing of the spirit and body);
• 7 candles;
• utensils for oil;
• Red wine;
• olive oil:
• 7 sticks wrapped in cotton.

Sacrament cost

The question of the cost of the sacrament is not entirely correct. Each person has his own possibilities, from which it is worth proceeding when paying for unction. You can ask the priest himself about this, who will orient the price or conduct the ceremony for free in the name of the Lord, depending on how a person’s life is arranged.

Priests often have to visit both rich families and barracks where people with low incomes live. If there are many children in the family or a disabled person who needs constant care, then the priest will always get into a position and will not take money. As payment, it is allowed to present some rice and a bottle of olive oil instead of money.

Unction in 2020 will traditionally take place on the days of Great Lent. In some churches, it also takes place during the Nativity Fast, but most believers try to gather every year during the Great Fortecost. In addition, if necessary, unctions are performed on an individual basis at any time of the year.

Another name for Unction is the Consecration of the Unction. This is the Sacrament, during which, through the anointing with consecrated oil (oil), God grants a person help in healing mental and bodily ailments. The divine service got its name because it is supposed to be performed by a council of (several) priests. Usually - seven, but if there is no such possibility, then one priest can unction, and this does not make the Sacrament "less effective."

Each church has its own schedule of unctions: in some churches, unction takes place once a day. great post, in others - once a week or two, somewhere, as, for example, in the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow, even twice a week.

When is Unction for Great Lent 2020?

Unctions for Great Lent 2020 are held in each temple according to its own schedule. In large parish churches, usually 3-4 times per fast, in large monasteries- weekly. Unctions can be performed both in the first half of the day - most often at 11 or 12 am, and in the evening - at 17 or 18 o'clock. But the day and time in each temple are appointed based on their own conditions: the schedule of services, the number and employment of priests, the opportunities to invite priests from another temple (ideally, seven priests should perform unction).

In most churches, unctions are held on weekdays. But in some churches it is possible to congregate on Saturday or even on Sunday. Most often, unctions take place during the period from the second to the sixth week of Great Lent. But "latecomers" can find churches where unction is performed even on Holy Week.

In Moscow, even a believer with a very busy schedule will be able to choose the right option for himself. But in not so large settlements you can stay without unction. In this case, it is worth remembering that mass unctions during Great Lent are an optional practice that has gained popularity not so long ago. Participation in the Sacrament is certainly useful, but if a Christian does not have serious health problems, is not in a difficult state of mind, regularly confesses and takes communion, then he does not need to take unction, and he can do this at will and whenever possible. For a person with few churches, what is more important during Great Lent will be not unction, but the Sacrament of Penance and the Sacrament of Communion.

When is a meeting needed?

Unction is needed first of all when a person is seriously ill, and illness means not only problems with physical health, but also spiritual ailments (for example, despondency and despair). Through the Consecration of the Unction, believers receive the blessing of God. It is wrong to perceive unction as a magic medicine. The Sacrament of the Church is a meeting with God, and in any case it will be support and help if a person goes to it with an open heart and deep faith. But only the Lord knows what will be more useful - a speedy recovery, relief of the condition, or humility and acceptance of one's sorrows.

Unction takes on special significance when a Christian is near death. Through him he receives the forgiveness of forgotten sins. Unction can be performed when the condition of the believer is such that it is difficult for him to fully confess, but he is conscious and desires to participate in the Sacrament. It is wrong to perceive the Unction as "the last anointing". Christ Himself instructed the apostles to anoint believers with oil precisely for their healing.

A completely healthy person can also fight, since everyone will have wounds, if not on the body, then in the soul, which can be healed only by God's touch. Therefore, it has become a tradition in the Russian Orthodox Church that all believers, if they wish, participate in the Sacrament once a year.

How often is unction needed?

Unction does not need to be done often. If a person does not suffer from obvious bodily or spiritual ailments, then he needs to take unction no more than once a year. If a person suffers from serious illnesses, then the need for more frequent unction should be determined by his confessor, based on the condition of the sick person - physical and spiritual.

Previously, it was believed that during the course of one illness one could take unction once, and repeated communion to this sacrament was regarded as distrust of God. Now there is no ban on multiple unction during the same illness, because we are talking not about a runny nose, but about ailments that a person can suffer for many years or even a lifetime.

But this does not mean that a sick person can take unction every week during Great Lent. One cannot often take unction in the hope that if one goes through the sevenfold anointing with consecrated oil many times, one can turn from a sick person into a healthy one. Unction is a Sacrament, and often its result may not be so obvious. It cannot and should not take the place of medical treatment, but it can become a support of bodily and mental strength in sickness and adversity. It is necessary to approach Unction with reverence, understanding that this is a Gift of God commanded by Christ Himself to people.

When to take communion after the unction?

There is no strict rule about when to take communion after the Unction. But it is better to do this in the near future, and believers try to take communion the next day after the Consecration of the Unction. Therefore, the celebration of this Sacrament during the days of Great Lent is often scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, that is, on the eve of the Liturgies, which on the days of Fortecost on weekdays occur only on Wednesday and Friday.

It is possible to take communion after the Unction after a few days, especially if a person lives a Christian life and approaches the Sacrament regularly. Do not neglect the recommendations of the Church about communion after the Unction for those who receive communion infrequently.

It must be understood that in the sacrament of Unction by grace God's man only those sins are forgiven that he forgot about or that he committed out of ignorance, but unrepentant and unconfessed, and even more so, consciously hidden sins continue to corrode him from the inside. Unction cannot be some kind of separate “cleansing” action for a person who does not strive to be with God and change himself on the way to Him. Therefore, before proceeding to the sacrament of Unction, it is advisable to confess. And then - to proceed to the sacrament of Communion, through which God gave man the opportunity to unite with Himself.

How to use rice and oil after pickling?

The oil consecrated during the Unction, and rice (or other grain), in which candles were placed during the consecration of the Unction, are often taken home by believers, according to a widespread tradition. Then they anoint themselves with this oil or burn it in a lamp, and some people eat grain (and if it is not rice, but wheat, then they germinate it).

In ancient times, believers did not take away oil and rice after the Unction, and all this was subject to burning at the temple. Now, parishioners themselves often ask the clergy to give them what is left after the service, believing that by anointing the sick places with the oil consecrated at the Unction, one can also receive God's help. Of course, such actions do not replace what happens during the Sacrament, when priests and Christians pray together for healing from diseases, but there is nothing reprehensible in this when it is not perceived as a magical ritual.

But it is not necessary, if you are not sure that you will and can use them, take oil and rice after the Unction. Oil, rice, candles are just attributes that give a person living on earth the opportunity to feel what is happening to him with his main senses. But it doesn't matter if you brought home something material in your hands after the Sacrament, if you didn't bring anything in your soul.