О Елеосвящении
The Nature of Holy Unction
Holy Unction is a sacramental act where the anointing of the sick with consecrated oil brings God's healing grace to both soul and body.
What is Holy Unction? Holy Unction is a Sacrament in which, when the body is anointed with oil (consecrated plant oil), God's grace is called down upon the sick person, healing illnesses of soul and body.1
The Apostolic Origin of Healing
The practice of anointing the sick is rooted in the ministry of the Apostles and the ongoing prayer of the Church's presbyters.
Where does this Sacrament originate? This Sacrament originates with the apostles, who, having received authority from Jesus Christ, “anointed many who were sick with oil and healed them” (Mk. 6:13). The apostles handed this Sacrament down to the ministers of the Church, as is clear from the following words of the Apostle James: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.✦2 And the prayer of faith will heal the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him” (Jas. 5:14–15).
Read the original Latin
Что такое Елеосвящение? Елеосвящение есть Таинство, в котором при помазании тела елеем (освящённым растительным маслом) призывается на больного Божия благодать, исцеляющая душевные и телесные болезни.
Откуда берёт начало это Таинство? Это Таинство ведёт начало от апостолов, которые, получив власть от Иисуса Христа, «многих больных мазали маслом, и исцеляли» (Мк. 6:13). Апостолы передали это Таинство священнослужителям Церкви, что видно из следующих слов апостола Иакова: «Болен ли кто из вас, пусть призовет пресвитеров Церкви, и пусть помолятся над ним, помазав его елеем во имя Господне. И молитва веры исцелит болящего, и возставит его Господь; и, если он соделал грехи, простятся ему» (Иак. 5:14–15).
Scripture echoes
- ↩Jas.5.14-Jas.5.15 — Is anyone 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. Jas.5.15 — And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
Notes
- 1 ↩Елеосвящение rendered as Holy Unction (standard Orthodox English for this Sacrament); alternate renderings include Anointing of the Sick and Unction of the Sick.
- 2 ↩Russian пресвитеров is rendered “presbyters,” matching the technical term and James 5:14; “elders” or “priests” are common alternatives in English Bibles and Orthodox usage.
Catechism of the Orthodox Church (Longer Catechism) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit