What is Chrismation?
Chrismation is a church sacred rite in which the baptized person is granted special gifts of the Holy Spirit for strengthening and progress in the Christian life.
What is the connection between the mystery of baptism and the mystery of Chrismation?
In the mystery of baptism, the believer in Christ is granted forgiveness of all sins, puts on Christ (Gal. 3:27), and is joined to the Body of Christ—the Church (1 Cor. 12:13). In the mystery of Chrismation, the baptized person is granted the grace of the Holy Spirit, helping him to live in a Christian, virtuous manner.
From where does the mystery of Chrismation originate?
There was never a time when this mystery was not in the Church of Christ. Calling people into the Church with his first sermon, the Apostle Peter said: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). The sacred rite of conferring the gifts of the Holy Spirit followed the mystery of baptism, just as it does with us now.
How was the sacred rite of conferring the gifts of the Holy Spirit first performed?
It was first performed through the laying on of hands by the Apostles or bishops. Here is how it is reported in Holy Scripture: "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14-17).
Could all Christians perform the sacred rite of conferring the gifts of the Holy Spirit on believers?
No, not all, but only the Apostles or bishops. Learning of this order, Simon the sorcerer, who had believed and been baptized (Acts 8:9, 13), desired to obtain the right to give the Holy Spirit. "And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 8:18-19).
From where is it even more evident that the conferring of the Holy Spirit was performed only by Apostles or bishops?
This is evident from the fact that to perform this action in Samaria, the coming of the Apostles Peter and John was required (Acts 8:14).
Do we have this sacred rite of conferring the Holy Spirit?
We do. It is performed over those being joined to the Church immediately after baptism, as in ancient times (Acts 19:5-6). It is now called Chrismation, because it is performed not through the laying on of hands by bishops, but by priests through anointing with chrism (myron) consecrated by bishops.
When and why did this change in the sacred rite of conferring the Holy Spirit occur?
The change occurred in deep antiquity. Since Christianity spread to various places, and the local "churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily" (Acts 16:5), and the Apostles and then their successors—the bishops—could not be everywhere for the laying on of hands, the Apostles decided to consecrate chrism and distribute it to the presbyters (priests), so that these latter could perform the sacred rite of conferring the Holy Spirit even without the Apostles.
Is there an indication in Holy Scripture of such a change?
Yes. In Scripture, the conferring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is often called anointing. The Apostle Paul says: "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee" (2 Cor. 1:21-22). Therefore, priests, anointing the baptized with holy chrism, say: "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Also, the Apostle John clearly points to the granting of the Holy Spirit through Holy Chrismation: "But you," he writes, "have an anointing from the Holy One" (1 John 2:20).
Why is the conferring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit now performed precisely through Chrismation?
Because the communication of an extraordinary gift from God has always been expressed through anointing with oil.
In ancient times, through anointing with oil, high priests (Ex. 30:30) and kings (1 Sam. 10:1; 16:1-3) were appointed. In the New Testament, all Christians receive extraordinary gifts (1 Cor. 12:11-13). For this purpose, anointing with consecrated fragrant chrism is performed over them.
Why do we consecrate fragrant chrism?
Because even in the Old Testament it was compounded in a special way (Ex. 30:22-25, 31-32).
Do sectarians recognize the necessity of the sacred rite of conferring the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Baptists do, and therefore they perform something resembling this sacred rite, acting, however, completely unlawfully. Even Simon the sorcerer understood that not everyone is given the right to perform this sacred rite, but only the Apostles and those to whom they transmitted it. Therefore, he wanted to buy this right for money. The Baptists, however, are worse than Simon the sorcerer: they directly, as it were, stole this right from those holding sacred authority in the Church and think that by this theft they will force the Holy Spirit to descend on those on whom their self-appointed ones lay hands. It is clear that by their self-will they bring down upon those who, in blindness, submit to them, an unclean spirit, and not the Holy Spirit, who abides only in the Church of Christ and is given through the hands of the church's shepherds performing the sacred rite. [It is possible that their actions are merely a farce – and that is in the best case.]⁵
Do the Pashkovites (Evangelicals) recognize the necessity of the sacred rite of conferring the Holy Spirit?
No, they do not, and they say that the Holy Spirit descends on them as on Cornelius the centurion and his household (Acts 10).
Is such a judgment of the Pashkovites well-founded?
No, it is not well-founded, because the case of the descent of the Holy Spirit on Cornelius and his household was exceptional. By it, the Lord showed that Gentiles, which had not been done before, should also be received into the Church. In all other cases, the conferring of the Holy Spirit was performed through a special sacred rite (Acts 8:14-17; 19:6); even Simon the sorcerer understood this, expressing the desire to buy the right to confer the Holy Spirit; the Pashkovites, however, do not accept the sacred rite of conferring the gifts of the Holy Spirit and therefore prove themselves less reasonable than Simon the sorcerer.
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