As you will personally participate in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ through Holy Baptism, you will also personally participate in Pentecost through the Mystery of Holy Chrismation. Immediately following your Baptism, you will be anointed with the Holy Chrism to give you the Gift and Seal of the Holy Spirit. Having been purified through Baptism, you are now consecrated as a living temple indwelled by the Holy Spirit. After the anointing, the Priest will wash away the Holy Chrism from your body with a natural sponge dipped in pure water. With this wiping away of the Chrism be reminded that your Chrismation is not just an external sign placed on your body, but the Divine Presence of the Holy Spirit implanted within your soul.
When you have received the Grace of Holy Baptism and Holy Chrismation, walk the Way daily so that the Grace within you may grow and bear fruit. Fulfill your calling to be a living temple, body and soul, in whom the Holy Spirit is pleased to dwell.
(Since our Antiochian churches in the United States are part of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, our Chrism has been consecrated by our chief bishop, the Patriarch of Antioch. The Chrism is kept by our Metropolitan of North America for distribution to the churches as necessary.)
Read: Exodus 30.22-33; Acts 2; 8.14-17; 1 Corinthians 3.16; 6.19-20; 2.1-12; Ephesians 1.1-23; Revelation 7.1-3; 22.4-5
Text copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees