The Sacred Mysteries
Prayer for the Sick
Anointing and Last Rites
In times of illness, suffering, and the approach of death, the Church does not leave her members alone. Through the sacrament of Prayer for the Sick — which includes anointing with oil, prayer, and, where possible, the reception of the other sacraments — the Armenian Apostolic Church ministers to those in need of God's healing grace, forgiveness, and comfort.
The Scriptural Mandate
This sacrament is rooted directly in the apostolic practice commanded in the New Testament:
“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 will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
Notice that the passage joins healing of the body with forgiveness of sins — the two are not separated. The prayer which is part of the conferring of this sacrament proclaims that it is Jesus Christ Himself who dispels and takes away the pain and suffering of the world.
The Prayer of Anointing
The prayer spoken at the conferring of this sacrament reads:
“Alleviate the pain and heal the sickness of Your people, O Lord our God, and grant to all perfect health by the sign of Your all victorious cross by which You removed the human infirmities and condemned the enemy of our life and salvation. You are our life and salvation, O beneficent and most merciful God, who alone are able to forgive our sins and dispel disease and sickness from among us, and to Whom are made manifest our needs. O You Who bestow good things, bestow Your abundant mercy according to the needs of each of Your creatures, by whom the All Holy Trinity is always glorified and praised now and forever and ever. Amen.”
Christ, Healer of Body and Soul
All four of the Gospels are replete with accounts of our Lord both curing the individual and granting forgiveness of sin. Healing and forgiveness are never truly separate in His ministry — and they are not separate in this sacrament either.
Looked at collectively, all of the sacraments, in one form or another, proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ as the Lord of all of life and of its various aspects. This final sacrament makes that proclamation in the most tender and intimate of circumstances: at the bedside of the suffering and the dying, where the Church carries Christ's own healing presence to those who need it most.
Arranging a Pastoral Visit
If you or a loved one is ill, hospitalized, homebound, or nearing the end of life, please contact the parish office as soon as possible. Our Pastor is available to visit, pray, anoint, and administer the sacraments to those who are unable to attend services.
Do not wait until the final moments. The Church's ministry to the sick is meant to bring comfort, healing, and spiritual strength throughout an illness — not only at its end.
Need a pastoral visit?
Contact the parish office to arrange for our Pastor to visit, pray with, and anoint someone who is ill or unable to attend services.