The Anointing of David
David Larsen at Heavenly Ascents continues to provide excellent notes from his attendance at the Temple Studies Group Symposium in London last weekend. Recently he posted his notes on Archimandrite Ephrem‘s presentation about the Holy Oil in the Orthodox Church. Father Ephrem gave out a handout which included detailed notes on the anointing rite in the Orthodox Church, which includes this portion:
The one to be baptized is brought forward. The Priest takes some of the oil and makes the sign of the Cross on the forehead, breast and back of the candidate, saying: The servant of God, N., is anointed with the oil of gladness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. As he signs their breast and back he says: For healing of soul and body. On the ears: For the hearing of faith. On the feet: For your feet to walk. On the hands: Your hands made me and fashioned me. And when the whole body has been anointed the Priest baptizes the person, holding them upright and facing East, as he says: The servant of God N. is baptized, in the name of the Father. Amen. And of the Son. Amen. And of the Holy Spirit. Amen. At each invocation the Priest immerses them and raises them again [three-fold immersion]. ((Handout from Archimandrite Ephrem in notes on Heavenly Ascents blog. Notes in brackets are mine.))
Check out David Larsen’s Heavenly Ascents blog for more details from Father Ephrem’s presentation.
Just one more proof, to me at least, that Joseph Smith received the washing and anointing ordinance through the revelatory process. Neat stuff. Thanks David and Bryce!
My wife and I just did some initiatory work last weekend for some family names my mom gave me. What a wonderful experience it was to participate in a portion of the work that is often overlooked and under appreciated.
I love the initiatory work of the temple as it contains immediate promises and blessings pronounced upon the initiate!
And the washing and anointing room of the Mesa Temple is fabulous!