The Sacred Mysteries
Chrismation
The Completion of Baptism
Chrismation — known in the West as Confirmation — is the sacrament that completes Baptism. If Baptism is the new birth, Chrismation is the sealing of that new life: the moment the newly baptized is dedicated to God and marked as His own. In the Armenian Apostolic Church, the two sacraments are inseparable, administered together as one unified act of initiation into the Body of Christ.
It is not an “add on.” It is the essence of who we are to be as Christians.
The Meaning of Anointing
In the Armenian Church, anything set apart for God's service is anointed — sealed to Him. A church building is anointed when it is consecrated as a house of worship. An icon to be used in the church is anointed. When a priest is ordained, his forehead and hands are anointed. In each case, the meaning is the same: this person or object is being dedicated and sealed to God, to be used in His service.
When someone is baptized, the same logic applies. The new spiritual life born through Baptism is immediately given and dedicated to God through the anointing of Chrismation — on the forehead, eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, hands, heart, back, and feet. The newly baptized is sealed as belonging entirely to Christ.
A Personal Pentecost
In Orthodox theology, Chrismation is understood as an extension — or continuing — of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. In the sacrament, the Holy Spirit descends upon the newly baptized. In Armenian, this is called guhnoonk — sealing.
“…having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Each Chrismation is, in effect, the candidate's own private Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is imparted to the newly baptized, marking them as belonging to God in a singular way. This new Christian is now fully and completely a member of the Body of Christ, the Church — part of the priesthood of believers, called to bear continual witness to Jesus Christ.
The Prayers of Anointing
To see the total Christ-centeredness of this sacrament, one need only look at the prayers spoken at each anointing. As the priest applies the holy Muron (chrism oil) to each part of the body, he prays:
This sweet oil, which is poured upon you in the name of Jesus Christ, be a seal of incorruptible heavenly gifts.
May this seal in the name of Jesus Christ enlighten your eyes, so that you may never sleep unto death.
May this holy anointing be to you for the hearing of the divine commandments.
May this seal in the name of Jesus Christ be a sweet smell to you for life unto life.
May this seal in the name of Jesus Christ be a guard for your mouth and a strong door for your lips.
May this seal in the name of Jesus Christ be a cause for good works and for all virtuous deeds and conduct.
May this divine seal cleanse your heart and establish an upright spirit within you.
May this seal in the name of Jesus Christ be for you a shield of strength, so that you may quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
May this divine seal direct your steps toward eternal life, so that you may not be shaken.
Peace to You, O Anointed of God
When the anointing is finished, the priest speaks these words over the newly chrismated:
“Peace to you, O saved of God. Peace to you, O anointed of God.”
It is this sealing — this signing of the Holy Spirit — that is the heart of the sacrament. The newly chrismated is now marked as belonging to Christ in a complete and irrevocable way. Their relationship to our Lord and Savior is sealed and assured by the Holy Spirit.
This is why, in the Armenian Church, Chrismation is administered immediately following Baptism and is required before the reception of Holy Communion or the Sacrament of Marriage. Together, the three sacraments — Baptism, Chrismation, and First Communion — constitute the full rite of Christian initiation.
Questions about Chrismation?
Contact the parish office to speak with our Pastor about the sacraments of initiation.