Consecration of Chrism: Symbol of Ecclesial Unity?

Abstract

In the course of history, the sanctification of the precious chrism/myron has become increasingly complex; the article investigates how, when and why this happened. Moreover, the consecratory ceremony evolved into a sign of ecclesial togetherness in a common celebration with the church leadership. In Byzantine-rite Orthodoxy, the costly and impressive ritual developed into a supra-diocesan prerogative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. However, various other autocephalous churches, such as the Patriarchate of Moscow, hallow their own myron. Therefore, the ritual in question, also meant to unify global Orthodoxy, is not entirely pan-Orthodox. After having outlined this, the article concludes: On the one hand, the liturgy of confecting and consecrating chrism intends to demonstrate and bring about unity; on the other, the very same liturgy also reveals (at times) division, namely in situations of rupture of communion, insistence on one’s own independence, and different convictions about the correct canonical order.

Keywords

• theology
• liturgics
• chrism
• myron
• autocephaly
• orthodox church
• ecclesial unity
• patriarchate of constantinople
• patriarchate of moscow