Office of Holy Oil - Brief Form

This abbreviated Service is intended for one who is in danger of imminent death, or who is critically ill. Before the Anointing, the one who is sick must be prepared by the Sacrament of Penance. If the one to be anointed is in danger of death, he/she must be communed with the Holy Mysteries before the Anointing. (This Anointing is not a Service of “Last Rites.”)

Preparations for the Anointing are the same as for the full Office, except that, in case of need, one Priest, instead of the customary seven, may suffice to perform the Office. Likewise, the Office may be celebrated apart from the church if the one who is sick is unable to leave the sickbed.

The First Priest takes the censer with incense and censes around the table of the Holy Oil, and all the church (or the house, or wherever the sick one may be) and the people; and, standing before the table, looking towards the east, he begins:

Priest: Blessed is our God, now, always, and forever and ever.

All: Amen.

Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth,
Who are present and fill all things,
Treasury of Blessings, Bestower of Life,
come and dwell among us;
cleanse us of all that defiles us,
and, O Good One, save our souls.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal,
have mercy on us! Thrice

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and forever and ever. Amen.

Trinity most holy, have mercy on us.
Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord;
pardon our transgressions, O Master;
look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One;
for the sake of Your name.

Lord, have mercy. Thrice

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and forever and ever. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever.

All: Amen.

LITANY

Deacon: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy. (repeat for each petition)

Deacon: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: That this Oil may be blessed by the power, operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: For the servant of God, N. , and for the visitation of God upon him/her, and that the grace of the Holy Spirit may come upon him/her, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: That he/she and we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace.

Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life to Christ our God.

All: To You, O Lord.

PRAYER OF THE OIL
Then the First Priest says the Prayer of the Oil over the shrine-lamp
as he pours oil and wine water into the empty vessel.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O Lord Who, through Your mercies and compassions, heal the disorders of our souls and bodies: Sanctify this Oil, O Master, that it may be effectual to them that are anointed with it for healing, and for the relief of every passion, of defilement of flesh and spirit, and of every ill; and that thereby may be glorified Your most holy Name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever.

All: Amen.

PROKEIMENON, TONE 1

Deacon: Let us be attentive.

First Priest: Peace be to all.

Reader: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have set our hope on You. (Psalm 32:22)

verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous; praise befits the upright. (Psalm 32:1)

EPISTLE

Deacon: Wisdom.

Reader: A Reading from the Catholic Epistle of James.

Deacon: Let us be attentive.

Reader: Brothers and Sisters: take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 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. 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. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (5:10-16)

First Priest: Peace be to you.

Reader: And to your spirit.

ALLELUIA, TONE 8

Of mercy and judgment will I sing to You, O Lord. (Psalm 100:1)

GOSPEL

Deacon: Wisdom! Stand aright! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

First Priest: Peace be to all.

All: And to your spirit.

First Priest: The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.

All: Glory be to You, O Lord, glory be to You.

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

The First Priest reads the Gospel:

At that time, a certain lawyer approached Jesus and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbour as yourself.’” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbour to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (10:25-37)

All: Glory be to You, O Lord, glory be to You.

LITANY

Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great goodness, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy. (thrice, after each petition)

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and forgiveness of sins for the servant of God, N, that he/she may be pardoned all his/her sins, both voluntary and involuntary, let us pray to the Lord.

Priest: For You are a merciful God, and the Lover of Mankind, and to You do we send up glory; to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever.

All: Amen.

PRAYER

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O You Who are without beginning, eternal, and the Holy of Holies, Who sent down Your Only-begotten Son to heal every infirmity and every wound of our souls and bodies: send down Your Holy Spirit and sanctify this Oil; and cause it to be for Your servant, N. who is to be anointed, perfect deliverance from his/her sins, and for the inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom.

The second part of this Prayer is omitted only for a good reason, such as if the sick one about to lose consciousness. Otherwise, it must be said.

For You are a great and wondrous God, Who keep Your covenant and Your mercy to them that love You, granting deliverance from sins through Your Holy Child, Jesus Christ, Who regenerates us from sin, enlightens the blind, sets aright them that are cast down, loves the righteous, and is merciful to sinners, Who brings us forth again out of darkness and the shadow of death, saying to them that are in bondage, “Come forth,” and to them that are in darkness, “Be unveiled”. (For He shone in our hearts the light of the knowledge of His countenance when, for our sakes, He revealed Himself on earth and dwelled among men. And to them that accepted You, He gave the power to become children of God; and He has granted us sonship through the font of regeneration, causing us to have no part in the dominion of the devil.) For You were not pleased that we should be cleansed through blood, but have given, through holy Oil, an image of His Cross, that we may be a flock of Christ, a royal Priesthood, a holy nation, cleansing us by water, and sanctifying us by Your Holy Spirit. O Master and Lord, grant grace to us in this Your ministry, as You gave to Moses, Your servant, to Samuel, Your beloved, and to John, Your elect, and to all who inn every generation have been acceptable to You. And so make us to be ministers of Your new testament upon this Oil, which You have made Your own through the precious Blood of Your Christ, that, putting away worldly lusts, we may die to sin and live to righteousness, that we may be clothed in Him through the anointing of sanctification of the Oil which we are about to apply. Let this Oil, O Lord, be the Oil of gladness, the Oil of sanctification, a royal garment, the breastplate of power, the averting of every diabolical action, the seal against snares, the joy of the heart, and eternal gladness, that they who are anointed with this Oil of regeneration may be terrible to adversaries and may shine in the brightness of Your Saints, having neither spot nor blemish. And may they attain to Your eternal rest, and receive the prize of their high calling. For You it is to have mercy and to save us, O our God, and to You do we send up glory, together with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your Most-holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and forever and ever.

All: Amen.

Anointing

The First Priest takes one of the wands and, dipping it in the Holy Oil, anoints the sick person in crosswise manner, on the forehead, the nostrils, the cheeks, the lips, the breast, and on both sides of the hands, saying this Prayer:

O Holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies, Who sent Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who heals every infirmity and delivers from death: Heal Your servant, N. of the bodily and spiritual infirmities which possess him/her, and enliven him/her through the grace of Your Christ:* Through the prayers of our Most-holy Sovereign Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary; by the protection of the honourable and bodiless powers of Heaven; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the honourable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-praised Apostles; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and unmercenary Physicians, Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermalaeus, Sampson and Diomedes, Photius and Anicetus; of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the Saints. For You are the Fountain of healing, O our God, and to You do we send up glory, together with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your Spirit, One in Essence, now and forever and ever. Amen.

If, after the first anointing and the reading of the first part of the above prayer (up to * above) the sick one still lives, the previously-omitted part of the Oil is completed immediately (beginning with Psalm 142), and the rest of the Office is celebrated uninterrupted, in order. If, after the point indicated above, the sick one dies, the Office ends immediately—further anointing is not done, as the Mystery is complete (from the Trebnik—Book of Needs of Met. Peter Mogila).

Source: The Great Book of Needs, St. Tikhon's.

page updated on: April 11, 2008

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