Anointing at DL tonight

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ClaireS

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Tonight after the Byzantine Divine Liturgy the priest anointed us with oil and the alcolyte had a basket of bread for each of us to take a small piece. What was that about?
 
As far as I’m aware of the Byzantine Tradition, the Anointing (Latin: Anointing of the Sick) can take place on certain days or during major feasts. It is not only for those who are dying, but who need healing from physical, mental or spiritual illness, and can be repeated as needed.

The basket was probably blessed bread, not consecrated, but part of the unused portion from the loaf of which Eucharist was taken and consecrated.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidoron
 
Bread that is blessed and distributed to parishioners and visitors after the service is called antidoron.
Some of our Byzantine Rite members will fill you in.
🙂
 
Thank you both for the info. I’m pretty sure the anointing was not the sacrament of the sick but something else. I often go to the DL on Sunday because it’s our “last chance Mass”. I like it very much now that I know how to follow along in the book and participate in the singing and prayers. I don’t like it more or less than Mass: they are both very good.
 
ClaireS said:
Tonight after the Byzantine Divine Liturgy the priest anointed us with oil and the alcolyte had a basket of bread for each of us to take a small piece. What was that about?
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It is called Myruvania Anointing of Holy Oil. It is with “Elei” (blessed oil).

Ukrainian: мирування
 
The anointing may very well have been the Sacrament of the Sick, which is not reserved for emergency use only. The Byzantine Tradition does not always reserve it for emergencies as near-death. Byzantines are called to be mindful of death always, and to be grateful for their preparedfulness.

What is the Liturgical Rite of this Church?

Was there a bulletin for the 28th?

Were you anointed on both the head and the hands?

Was the service in English? Were you able to catch any of the words it was about?

But I belive this definition from Erie County Byzantines fits in nicely with your experience:
Mirovanije
The Anointing with Holy Oil, taking place at the end of a solemn Holy Day liturgy. The faithful approach for the veneration of the icon of the feast, usually displayed at the tetrapod. The priest anoints the forehead with holy oil and greets “Christ is among us!” Other greetings are offered at Christmas (“Christ is born!”) and at Easter (“Christ is risen!”). After being anointed, the individual may receive a small piece of antidoron.
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Here’s a thread which touches on these types of anointing:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php/archive/modcp_37/showthread.php?t=916510

and one at ByzCath:
byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/78145/Re:_HOLY_ANOINTING/GREAT&a
 
I think you will find that Byzantine Catholics are rather fond of slathering people with holy oil any chance they get for pretty much any reason. 😉
 
Miserissima said:
The anointing may very well have been the Sacrament of the Sick, which is not reserved for emergency use only. The Byzantine Tradition does not always reserve it for emergencies as near-death. Byzantines are called to be mindful of death always, and to be grateful for their preparedfulness.

…Were you anointed on both the head and the hands?
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The Mystery of the Sick is a mystery/sacrament for an individual, and a distinctive service/rite, not to be confused with the Mystery of Holy Anointing where all Catholics (or Orthodox in an Orthodox Church) may present to be anointed on the forehead and the hands after. The prayers for that are clearly penetential and this is done in a penetential season, which for new calendar folks is now passed. I doubt if this was a Ruthenian parish that they are on the Old Calendar and still in the Fast.

As others have said it was likely Myruvania Anointing.

ClaireS If it was a Vesperal Divine Liturgy then was there a blessing of the oil the wine, and the wheat during the** Vespers**? That happens in the middle of the church on a small Litiyá table with the small 5 loaves and the wheat and wine on that table. This is I think described in other threads that were linked to here.
 
5Loaves said:
The Mystery of the Sick is a mystery/sacrament for an individual, and a distinctive service/rite, not to be confused with the Mystery of Holy Anointing where all Catholics (or Orthodox in an Orthodox Church) may present to be anointed on the forehead and the hands after. The prayers for that are clearly penetential and this is done in a penetential season, which for new calendar folks is now passed. I doubt if this was a Ruthenian parish that they are on the Old Calendar and still in the Fast.

As others have said it was likely Myruvania Anointing.

ClaireS If it was a Vesperal Divine Liturgy then was there a blessing of the oil the wine, and the wheat during the** Vespers**? That happens in the middle of the church on a small Litiyá table with the small 5 loaves and the wheat and wine on that table. This is I think described in other threads that were linked to here.
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Thanks! I was confuzzled with Holy Wednesday anointing – which is the Sacrament of the Sick…?
 
Miserissima said:
Thanks! I was confuzzled with Holy Wednesday anointing – which is the Sacrament of the Sick…?
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The grace of the sacrament is only received by the gravely ill and sincerely contrite, in the eastern Catholic sacrament of the anointing of the sick. This is given in CCEO Can. 737.
 
Miserissima said:
Thanks! I was confuzzled with Holy Wednesday anointing – which is the Sacrament of the Sick…?
Click to expand...
The distinction I was making was between the Holy Unction which is on the calendar and we all take part in receiving anointing on the evening of Holy Wednesday, for example, and the Mystery as celebrated for an individual who is suffering some illness. I have only taken part in the latter in my own parish, not in an Orthodox Church. Something distinctive in this service is that of course only the individual who is receiving the Mystery is anointed, their forehead, the nostrils, the cheeks, the lips, the breast, the palms of both hands, and the back of the hands. Following the anointing, the Book of the Gospels is held open and upside down like a kind of tent over the head of the person while the priest prays the Gospel. Both are the Mystery of healing. We’re all in need of healing as the first indicates.
 
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