Myrr succession

[GOCTheophan]

Father Bless!

Dear Fr Silouan,

Do you know how they make up the Chrism? What goes into it? What is the service like for consecrating it? How does it differ from the Chrism the Church uses to annoint right-believing Kings?

Thank you,
Theophan.

[Priest Siluan]

Father Bless!

Dear Fr Silouan,

Do you know how they make up the Chrism? What goes into it? What is the service like for consecrating it?

Dear Theophan:

God may bless you!

It is prepared with olive oil, wine, incenses, roots, rose petals and many different oriental aromatic spices, many of them are not in Russia, but only in Greece or Middle East.

The services is a special ones presided by the Patriarch or First Hierarch (it began with a "molyeben"). The preparation and the service takes several days in Holy Week since the Holy Monday until Thursday (three days),since the first day, they put on all the spices in a recipient which it is unceasingly blended for the priests, deacons et al. for three day, during this period of three days it is constantly read the Holy Gospel.

Then in the Great Entrance of the Liturgy of the Holy Thursday, the Patriarch or First Hierarch adds the Old Chrism (which keeps the Church Succession) on the New Chrism and He blesses it.

Two link about (one with pictures) in Russian:

http://www.portal-credo.ru/site/?act=ne ... &type=view

http://vertograd.blogspot.com/2005/05/b ... 94348.html

How does it differ from the Chrism the Church uses to annoint right-believing Kings?

Thank you,
Theophan.

Dear Theophan,

It is the same Holy Chrism, that is to say also this same Holy Chrism is used for the annointing of the Orthodox Kings, Only differed the service for that, which is called "of Coronation". Maybe this coul help about:

Concerning the Chrysmation of Kings at a Coronation

According to the rite of the holy Orthodox Church, the sacrament of chrysmation is performed according to a special rite for Orthodox kings upon their coronation. For this reason kings are called "God’s Anointed." The chrysmation which is performed for kings is not some separate sacrament, nor should it be looked upon as a repetition of the sacrament of chrysmation, since the latter, like baptism, is unrepeatable. This holy anointing of the Sovereigns with holy chrysm on the day of their coronation is nothing other than a higher level of communication of the grace of the Holy Spirit, one essential for the Sovereign’s successful fulfillment of his high royal service. The Sovereign reads aloud the Symbol of the Orthodox Faith, after which follows the rite itself, which is reminiscent of a moleben in its order. A certain moving prayer in this rite is read by the crowned Sovereign himself, who prays to God: "Do Thou, O my Master and God, instruct me in the work for which Thou hast sent me; give me understanding and guide me in this great service, that the wisdom which is present at Thy throne may be with me…" At the beginning of the Liturgy the Sovereign removes his crown, and after the communion of the clergy in the altar and the opening of the royal doors the chrysmation of the Sovereign and his Queen is performed, at which the King is anointed with holy chrysm on the forehead, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, breast, and both sides of the hands, while the Queen is anointed on the forehead alone. Then the metropolitan leads the Sovereign through the royal doors into the altar, the doors are closed, and the Sovereign, as God’s Anointed and the supreme protector of the Church, partakes of the Holy Mysteries of Christ before the altar, "according to the royal rite,," just as the clergy commune — of the body of Christ and the holy blood separately. The Queen then partkes before the royal doors in the usual manner. They then return to their thrones, and their spiritual father reads for them the prayers of thanksgiving.

http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books ... c104768224

Keep me in your holy prayers.

With love in Christ

Priest Siluan