The Sacrament of Holy Unction before Easter at the monastic church of Saints Constantine and Helen

From the General Secretariat of the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On the evening of Holy Wednesday, 3rd/16th April 2025, the Sacrament of Holy Unction was celebrated at the Holy Monastic Church of Saints Constantine and Helen. The service was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and honorary President of the Middel East Council of Churches together with five Hierarchs of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre and His Eminence Metropolitan Makarios of Aneon from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who was visiting. Thus, the total number of celebrants was seven, corresponding to the number of Apostolic readings and Gospel narratives prescribed for this Sacrament.

This Sacrament is especially moving and spiritually uplifting, in accordance with the Lord’s commands, His miracles, and the acts of the Apostles. It strengthens the faithful in preparation for Holy Week and Easter.

Before the Dismissal, during the chanting by the Hierodeacon Symeon of the hymn “By the rivers of Babylon…”, His Beatitude, the Hierarchs, Archimandrites, monks, nuns, and the devout pilgrims were anointed, seeking forgiveness from one another and offering prayers for a blessed Easter.

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This news was originally published on the website of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.