The Holy Spirit and the Sacrament of Anointing

1. The Holy Spirit from the beginning of creation

• His Holiness explains that the Holy Spirit is mentioned from Genesis 1: “The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters,” and therefore this verse is read in the consecration of baptismal water.

• The Holy Spirit is the One with divine power in creation: “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.”

2. The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

• The Holy Spirit is the One who speaks in the prophets, the source of divine inspiration, as Saint Peter said that the prophets were “moved by the Holy Spirit.”

• He used to come upon chosen persons with special power: Samson, kings, priests, and prophets—anointing was the sign of His presence.

• Examples include Aaron, Saul, David, and the anointing of Elisha.

3. New Testament indications and early signs

• Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled: “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh,” quoted by Peter on Pentecost.

• The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of believers and grants them “a new heart and a new spirit,” as in Ezekiel 36.

• The grace of being filled with the Spirit first appeared in the family of John the Baptist: Elizabeth, John, and Zechariah.

4. The unique hypostatic descent upon the Virgin

• The Virgin Mary alone received the hypostatic descent of the Holy Spirit to form the divine Child without human seed and to sanctify her womb so that Christ would not inherit original sin.

5. The Holy Spirit in the apostolic age

• The Spirit was the condition for ministry and the source of its power: “It is not you who speak but the Spirit of your Father.”

• The early Church was “the Church of the Holy Spirit,” and every servant had to be “full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom.”

• The Spirit directed the apostles, determined places of service, and granted strength and wonders.

6. The giving of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament

• At first the Spirit was given through the laying on of hands (Acts 8 and 19), then this was replaced by the sacrament of Chrismation (the holy Chrism: Holy Myron).

• Priesthood is also given through the laying on of hands with a clear declaration specifying the rank.

7. Distinguishing between types of laying on of hands

• There is laying on of hands for priesthood, another for receiving the Spirit (now replaced by Myron), another for blessing, and another for healing as Christ did.

• The Holy Spirit works in all these within the limits of the authority granted according to the ecclesiastical declaration.

8. The Holy Spirit in the holy sacraments

• In Baptism: He sanctifies the water and grants the new birth and death of the old man.

• In Chrismation: He grants indwelling and steadfastness in the Spirit.

• In Confession: He grants forgiveness of sins.

• In the Eucharist: He transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of the Lord.

• In Marriage: He unites the two into one.

• In the Anointing of the Sick: He grants healing.

• In Priesthood: He grants spiritual authority.

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