After Baptism, Chrismation is the second sacrament of the Church. Chrismation is the application of a special oil, called Holy Chrism, which has been consecrated by our Patriarch. As the priest applies the Chrism on the forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, chest, hands, and feet, he proclaims, “The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” In the New Testament, the Apostles imparted the gift of the Holy Spirit upon newly illumined Christians by the laying on of hands, as in the passage above; Holy Chrism, because it is consecrated by the hand of a direct heir to the Apostles, our Patriarch, is an extension of this practice.

Those who enter the Orthodox Church as adults are in certain cases received through Chrismation rather than baptism if they can document that they have already been baptized 1) in water 2) in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and 3) in a Christian confession that believes in the Holy Trinity. Please consult Fr. Gregory to inquire what specific path is needed for you to enter the Church.