What is Unction in church during Lent?
One of the seven most important actions in the church, which are called the Sacraments, is Unction. This is a service during which people pray to God to heal them from mental and physical illnesses. Through anointing with oil, important spiritual omnipotence is given - God's help. There are several names: the Sacrament of Anointing and Unction.
The word “oil” is translated from Greek and Slavic as “oil”. Oil is a symbol of God's mercy. In Old Testament and ancient times, it was used as a medicine and was also eaten. Oil was rubbed on the body and hair, and anointed for the ministry of prophets, priests and kings. Preparation for the sacrament of consecration of oil, Unction in the church, is connected with the Sacrament of Repentance or Confession, because in the process of both, sins are forgiven. Confession exists to acknowledge and repent of one’s unforgotten sins before the Lord.
Myths about the Blessing of Anointing
There are many absurd superstitions and prejudices associated with the Sacrament of Unction. The most widespread misconception is that unction is performed only for hopeless patients, who, after the service, will inevitably leave the earthly world.
There are ignorant opinions that after the consecration of oil, those who have recovered:
- should go into a religious monastic community;
- you can't get married;
- fasts for the rest of his life.
All these legends and myths are false and have no basis in truth.
Conducting the Sacrament only on the dying
Under the mutual influence of Western religious teachings and philosophy, which left their mark on Russian theological teaching, the Sacrament of Unction began to be mistakenly understood as the last rite before death. This prejudice has placed a label of panic and fear on the Sacrament.
The monstrous spell is completely absurd and groundless, because the Holy Fathers speak of Unction as the Sacrament of healing by faith from all obvious and unintentional sinful acts that provoke mental and physical disorders. The true reasons for the occurrence of a disease are not always clear to human understanding; many of them are hidden from the justice of his conscience. Unction is used to get rid of such ailments.
Complete healing guaranteed
Cure from a physical illness cannot be called the inevitable return to life of a dying person. We must understand that, starting from birth, the human body, day by day, under the influence of life processes, begins to lose its original strength. Homeostasis weakens and loses its functions. Real real healing lies not only in restoring the functional state of the body, but also in returning a person to spiritual reality.
Forgiveness and remission of sins
In accordance with the dogmas of the Church, remission of sins occurs at the Sacrament of Confession. Only by repenting can a sinful person gain forgiveness.
Confirmation of awareness of committing a sin is:
- confession;
- regret about what happened;
- the intention to avoid mistakes in the future life,
- revision of human values.
Sinners who perform penance, in the event of approaching death, are freed from retribution and are honored with three Sacraments: Confession, Anointing and Communion. If the condition of a sinful person’s body has improved, then he must complete the moral correctional punishment.
Why is Unction necessary?
Sometimes a person is sick and at the same time works calmly and lives fully. And there are diseases in which a person cannot concentrate, something hurts him, but he does not understand what exactly. Such diseases are sent for spiritual improvement and are a consequence of the destructive power of sin. In such a state, Unction is needed. During the Unction, on behalf of the entire Church, the priests pray for everyone and ask, together with bodily health, for the remission of all sins that still remain after the Sacrament of Confession. This is an important reason to prepare and perform Unction in church, since a person is completely cleansed. The Lord God forgives old grievances. Thus, your soul becomes calm and light. And if the soul is peaceful and calm, then the body also nourishes the strength.
If a person is dying
Many people wonder whether it is possible to receive Unction at home for a patient who is dying. The priests say yes. Indeed, in many situations, complete healing occurred, and in some, the person went to the Lord, bypassing terrible suffering and torment.
Many people wonder whether it is possible to receive Unction
Another question is if the patient is already unconscious. Only the priest will decide whether to perform the Sacrament or not, because the person must be aware of what is happening and agree to it.
When is Unction held in church?
Mass Unction occurs several times during multi-day fasts, including Lent, or if there is an extreme need for it. To prepare for the Unction in the church during Lent in advance, you need to find out the schedule for the Unction. The schedule is posted in the temple at the beginning of the year. Typically, the dates for Unction are relatively constant each year. A specific date is determined directly with the abbots of a particular temple. Adjustments may also be made due to urgent circumstances. Unction can also take place in private, when a priest, for objective reasons, at the request of a praying person, comes to his home and performs this sacred act on him. Through anointing with oil, the priest invokes God's blessing and asks the Lord to heal a person's infirmities.
What is the power of Unction in church during Lent?
This ritual is started by weak people who have any ailments. But be that as it may, we all have either physical or spiritual illnesses. The Sacrament of Unction is performed on Orthodox believers over seven years of age. According to the canons of the church, it is not carried out on unconscious people and severely mentally ill people. Everyone chooses for themselves the need for Unction in their life. However, everyone commits sins and often we forget about them, since they are insignificant to us. During the Sacrament of Anointing, the remission of all sins occurs - spiritual illness, and most physical illnesses come from sins we have committed. It is recommended to participate in Unction in church once a year. If you have a feeling of weakening vitality or illness, you can do it more often. But Unction does not mean complete healing. A person still needs to use traditional means: going to the doctor, taking medications and other measures to get better.
Differences from Confirmation and Anointing
The Sacrament of Confirmation, like the Blessing of Anointing, belongs to the seven Sacraments of the Church. It differs in the number of implementations - it is performed once (except for royal persons), it is implemented by anointing certain parts of the body of the person who has accepted the ritual with the Holy Myrrh. According to the established tradition of the first centuries, the Holy Spirit was transmitted to the newly baptized through the laying on of hands by the apostles. But over time, the ritual began to be performed through anointing with aromatic myrrh, according to the Old Testament.
Anointing with Anointing does not belong to the seven sacred Sacraments; it is performed in the temple during Matins at the polyeleos. This action symbolizes the call for blessing, love and mercy of God. The ceremony is performed on everyone, even on people who have not received Holy Baptism.
How does Unction take place in church during Lent?
As usual, the process of Unction is lengthy. The church is thoroughly preparing for the ceremony. Seven priests take part in it. This symbolizes the perfect fullness, the sevenfold divine grace and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, piety and the fear of God. But in some cases, the Sacrament is performed by one, two or three priests on behalf of the entire Church.
Confession: how to properly confess before communion
How to prepare for Unction in church during Lent? A person who wants to receive the Sacrament of Anointing, Unction, must receive the blessing of a priest and confess a few days before this rite. First of all, on the day of Unction, you must come to the church in advance and add your names to the lists. Bring candles, wheat grain and wine.
The rite of Unction itself occurs approximately as follows: people stand in wide rows so that the priest can easily pass between them. Then the priests announce all the names entered and the parishioners read prayers for repentance, healing and giving them strength and a healthy spirit and seven different passages from the Gospel calling on Divine grace.
At the end of the reading, the Gospel must be placed with the text down on the head of the person behind whom the reading is taking place. This means that the very hand of the Lord blesses a person. Then the rite of Unction continues: the priests anoint the parishioners seven times in the shape of a cross with oil mixed with wine. Everyone is involved who has confessed in advance and is not in a state of unrepentant mortal sin. Anointing is always carried out from top to bottom in clearly defined areas:
- Forehead, that is, the mind is sanctified and gets rid of obsessive thoughts, various manias, and false ideas;
- Nostrils;
- Lips;
- Eyes;
- Rib cage;
- Palms with back of hands.
If there is oil left after the Sacrament of Unction, it is used to anoint those places where a person experiences pain. All organs are permeated with the highest energy of the Holy Spirit.
Afterwards, the priests, one after another, read prayers that the Lord himself, through the hands of the clergy, would touch the soul and body of each sufferer with his healing finger, deliver them from mental and physical illnesses, enlighten the consciousness, pacify the hearts, and restore the spirit of peace, vigor, joy and strength. The people pray with all their hearts and souls.
At the end of Unction, all parishioners in the church kneel, and the priests read troparia to the Mother of God, and sometimes also to the Apostle James. After receiving the Sacrament of Anointing, a great burden is lifted, liberation from energetic bonds and shackles occurs, thoughts are enlightened, and the heart is filled with joy and peace.
From time immemorial
Photo by Yulia Makoveychuk
The Sacrament of Anointing , like other sacraments, is of evangelical origin; it was established by Christ Himself. As we learn from the Gospel of Mark (chapter 6), “having called the twelve, Christ began to send them out two by two, giving them power over unclean spirits. They went and preached repentance, cast out many demons, and anointed and healed many sick people.” According to this testimony, even before the Savior’s suffering at Calvary, such a sacred rite existed; it provided help to the sick both physically and spiritually. Then we find information about the Sacrament of Anointing in the letter of the holy Apostle James (chapter 5, verses 14-15). “Is any of you sick, let him call 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 person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”
Attributes of Unction
A mandatory attribute of Unction in the church is a table with grain, the Gospel and a cross. Grains are a symbol of a new sinless life. The Gospel and the cross testify to the presence of the Lord. According to tradition, a special empty container is placed on top of the grain, into which the consecrated substances are then poured. Around the vessel, candles are stuck directly into the grain. At the end of the Unction, the candles can be left in the church or taken home to light during home prayer. Oil, wine and grain are used as additions to food. When an illness occurs, household members are anointed with oil in the shape of a cross, turning to God and praying for recovery. In the morning, after reading the prayers, a healthy person can anoint his forehead and say: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".
How to prepare for Unction in church
It is necessary to prepare and take a responsible approach to any Sacrament. Do this consciously, and not because it is accepted in society or because of someone’s instructions. When preparing for the Unction, it is important to analyze the path of life, and having collected one’s aspirations and having the right attitude, a person has the opportunity to begin to tap into this saving source.
It is not recommended to come to Unction in turtlenecks, jabots or other clothing through which it is difficult to reach the chest and anoint it with oil. It is better to choose clothes that are easy to unbutton in the front: shirts, blouses, and so on. It is advisable to bare your arms. Take a handkerchief or piece of cloth with you to remove excess oil after anointing and avoid getting dirty.
If by the time of the next Unction there is oil and grain left at home, then they must be burned and the ashes buried in a place where no one walks.
History of Unctions
History says that back in biblical times, the Sacrament of Unction was established by the Lord Jesus Christ for the sick. There are numerous cases of healing by Jesus in those days. He walked through the villages and cities of Palestine and miraculously cured people's ailments. Under the influence of the Divine gift of healing, the paralytic rose, the dead were resurrected, and people were cured of incurable diseases. The Savior gave the grace of healing various diseases to His disciples - the apostles. And subsequently he sent them to perform this ritual. Anointing with oil, Unction, is mentioned in his letter by his closest disciple, the Apostle James.
How to baptize an Orthodox Christian correctly from right to left or left to right
In ancient times, the Sacrament of Unction was not performed at home, and sick people had to be brought or brought to church in order to gain consolation for the suffering soul and restore health. Sometimes I had to spend more than a day in church.
In Rus', Unction was considered one of the most effective remedies against all sorts of diseases and obsessions. Therefore, people attached great importance to the ritual and tried to accept it in every way. The first Sacraments were performed mainly at home and only by a few priests. There was no set number of priests. From the 6th century to this day, all the traditions of Unction in the church during Lent have been preserved. Since the 9th century, the Blessing of Anointing has been performed not only for a seriously ill person, but for all his household members. In the same century, seven priests began to conduct. An 11th-century manuscript says that the insides of the house were also anointed with oil.
