The Sacrament of Holy Unction

The Blessing of the Oil

Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

(The Priest pours wine and oil into a vessel and places seven lighted lamps around it. Then he says the Prayer of the Oil:)

Priest: O Lord, who in Your mercy and compassions heal the infirmities of our souls and bodies: Do You Yourself, O Master, sanctify this oil, that it may be for those who are anointed with it unto healing, and unto relief from every passion, every defilement of flesh and spirit, and every ill; and that therein Your most holy name may be glorified, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Readings

(The first set of readings begins the cycle of seven.)

Deacon: Let us be attentive! Wisdom!

(The First Epistle: James 5:10-16.)

Reader: Is any among 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

(The First Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 - The Good Samaritan.)

Priest: At that time, a certain lawyer stood up and tempted Jesus, saying: Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? ... But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

The Holy Anointing

(The Priest anoints the person, saying the Prayer of Anointing:)

Priest: O Holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies, who didst send Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who healeth every disease and delivereth from death: Heal also Thy servant (Name) from the ailments of body and soul which do encompass him (her), and restore him (her) to life through the grace of Thy Christ; through the intercessions of our most holy Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; through the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven; through the prayers of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy, glorious, and victorious Martyrs; of our holy and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and unmercenary Physicians, Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermolaos, Sampson and Diomedes, Photius and Anicetus; of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the saints.

(He anoints the forehead, nostrils, cheeks, lips, breast, and hands in the form of a cross, saying at each: "O Holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies... heal Thy servant (Name).")

People: Amen.

The Laying on of the Gospel

(The Priest opens the Gospel Book and places it face-down on the head of the person, saying the Prayer of Absolution:)

Priest: O King, Holy and Compassionate, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who desire not the death of a sinner, but that he should turn and live: I lay not my sinful hand upon the head of him (her) who has come to You in repentance, asking of You through us the remission of sins; but I lay Your mighty and strong hand, which is in this Holy Gospel which my fellow-ministers hold upon the head of Your servant (Name). And I pray with them and entreat Your merciful love for mankind, O God our Savior, who by Your prophet Nathan didst grant forgiveness to David when he repented of his sins, and didst accept the prayer of Manasseh: Do You Yourself, O Lord, in Your customary love for mankind, accept also Your servant (Name) who repents of his (her) own transgressions, overlooking all his (her) errors. For You are our God, who didst command that we should forgive seventy times seven those who have fallen into sin. For as Your majesty is, so also is Your mercy; and to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Priest (Final Blessing): May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure Mother; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; of the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord and first Bishop of Jerusalem; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

People: Amen.