Chrismation
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Chrismation consists of the sacrament or mystery in the initiation rites of Eastern Christianity as practiced in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Assyrian Church of the East and Eastern Catholic churches. The sacrament is more commonly known in Western Christianity as confirmation, although some languages such as Italian, Maltese and Portuguese normally use the terms cresima, griżma (tal-isqof)[1][2] and crisma ("chrismation") rather than confermazione, konferma or confirmação, respectively ("confirmation").
The term chrismation comes about because it involves anointing the recipient of the sacrament with chrism (holy oil), which according to eastern Christian belief, the Apostles sanctified and introduced for all priests to use as a replacement for the laying on of hands by the Apostles.[3]
Chrism consists of a "mixture of 40 sweet-smelling substances and pure olive oil"[4] sanctified by a bishop with some older chrism added in,[5] in the belief that some trace of the initial chrism sanctified by the Apostles remains therein.
Eastern Orthodox Church
Common part of the rite
The priest anoints the recipient with chrism, making the sign of the cross on the forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, breast, hands, and feet using the following words each time: "The seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost" (in Greek: Σφραγὶς δωρεᾶς Πνεύματος Ἁγίου; in Church Slavonic: Печать дара Духа Святаго).
The chrism is washed off by a priest seven days later, according to the written rubrics,[6] the newly baptized wearing their white chitons and not washing their anointed parts for that period. However, in the case of infant baptism (and often also with adult chrismation contemporary practice), the ablution is performed immediately after the rite of chrismation.[7]
As part of the baptismal rite
Typically, one becomes a member of the Church by baptism and chrismation performed by a priest as a single service,[8] or subsequent to baptism performed by a layman.[9] While chrismation is often performed without baptism, baptism is never performed without chrismation; hence the term "baptism" is construed as referring to the administration of both sacraments (or mysteries), one after the other.
At the reconciliation of apostates
In the Eastern Orthodox Church the mystery may be conferred more than once as it is customary to receive apostates by repeating chrismation;[10][11] according to the Book of Needs, the priest "taking the Holy Chrism, he anoints him (her) according to the order of those who are baptized ..." towards the end of the "Prayers of Purification for One Returning to the True Faith from Apostasy".[12]
This practice is thus attested to in the ninth century by Saint Methodius of Constantinople in "The Rule of Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople, Concerning the Return from Apostasy of Various Persons to the True Orthodox Faith":
If a child ... is in apostasy ... let him be washed. Upon leaving the bath, girded with a linen cloth, let him be anointed with Chrism, as one who is baptized. And let him put on a new robe in the manner of those who have been baptized.
If ... one who is of age has renounced his impending torment ... then let him be washed and anointed with Chrism according to the accepted Rite. And when the Liturgy is celebrated, let him be counted worthy of the Holy Things, occupying himself in Church and the Liturgy, as them that are baptized ...[13]
At the reception of certain converts
Although normally administered in conjunction with baptism, in some cases chrismation alone may be used to receive converts to Orthodoxy through the exercise of economia. Although practice in this regard varies, in general, if a convert comes to Orthodoxy from another Christian confession and has previously undergone a rite of baptism in the Trinitarian Formula ("in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"), he or she may be received into the Orthodox Church through the sacrament of chrismation, after which he or she would receive the Holy Eucharist. On the other hand, if a convert comes from a group which practices an invalid, non-Trinitarian baptism (such as Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, or Oneness Pentecostals) or from one that does not practice baptism at all (such as Quakers or The Salvation Army), baptism is a prerequisite for chrismation—an initiate must always be validly baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost before any further sacraments can be administered. The use of economia is at the discretion of, and subject to the guidelines imposed by, the local bishop.[14][verification needed] Converts from non-Christian religions also need to be baptized before chrismation.
The sacrament of chrismation is an extension of the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Apostles. It is by chrismation that a person becomes a layperson — a member of the laos (laity), the people of God. Metropolitan Kallistos (Timothy Ware) explains:
Through Chrismation every member of the Church becomes a prophet, and receives a share in the royal priesthood of Christ; all Christians alike, because they are chrismated, are called to act as conscious witnesses to the Truth. "You have an anointing (chrisma) from the Holy One, and know all things" (1John 2:20).[15]
Oriental Orthodox churches
Chrismation in Oriental Orthodoxy is similar to that of Eastern Orthodoxy but is performed according to their sacramental theology, and may vary according to the particular church.
