Orthodox church to host rare ritual

The Catholicate Palace Chapel at Devalokam, headquarters of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, is set to host the consecration of Holy Chrism on March 27, cementing its status as the venue that has hosted this sacred rite the most number of times.

The ceremony will be presided over by Catholicos Baselius Marthoma Mathews III, marking his first such consecration as chief celebrant after assuming office. The service will see the participation of the Archdeacon in full vestments, along with 12 priests, 12 full deacons, and 12 subdeacons. The Holy Mass is scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m. on Friday and conclude by 2 p.m.

The consecration of Holy Chrism is a rare sacrament in Orthodox tradition, performed only once in decades. As part of the ceremony, perfumed oil is prepared. Olive oil, enriched with more than a dozen spices and herbs, forms the main ingredient of the perfumed oil. This perfumed oil is later used for anointing during various church sacraments.

According to church authorities, the consecration of chrism lies exclusively within the authority of the Patriarch or the Catholicos, who personally presides over the ceremony. Devalokam has previously hosted the sacrament in 1988, 1999, 2009, and 2018. This year’s ceremony marks the 11th such consecration in the history of the Malankara Church, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the first Mooron consecration held at Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church in 1876.

The second chrism consecration was also held at Mulanthuruthy in 1911. The ceremony was later conducted at the Old Seminary in 1932, 1951, 1967, and 1977. In Orthodox tradition, only the Patriarch and the Catholicos are entitled to perform this most sacred rite, also making it a symbol of the Church’s autonomy.