site.btaPatriarch Daniil Blesses Launch of Holy Myrrh Preparation before Easter

On Sunday of the Holy Cross, Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil blessed the beginning of the cycle of sanctification of the Holy Chrism, the ninth in the latest history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. His Holiness performed the service in co-celebration with the Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav John, the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Bishop of Melnik Gerasim, the Chancellor of Sofia Metropolitanate Archimandrite John, and other senior clerics, the Bulgarian Petriarchate’s press office said.

Before that, the Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav John and the Bishop of Melnik Gerasim co-celebrated a liturgy of St. Basil the Great at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

In the Orthodox Church, the Holy Chrism is sanctified for use in the celebration of the sacrament of Chrismation. It is a visible sign of the transmission of gifts of the Holy Spirit to those who are baptized. The Holy Chrism is prepared from oil and another fragrant essences, which symbolize the variety of gifts of the Holy Spirit that the chrismated Christian receives. 

The use of the Holy Chrism was introduced to the Christian Church from the existing Old Testament practice. It is stated that, "The Lord said to Moses, 'Take the finest spices    12 pounds of liquid myrrh, 6 pounds of sweet smelling cinnamon, 6 pounds of sweet cane, and 12 pounds of cassia (all weighted according to official standard). Add one gallon of olive oil, and make a sacred anointing oil, mixed like perfume.''' (Exodus 30:22 25).

The blessed compounds and vessels will remain at the church until Palm Sunday when the actual preparation of the Holy Chrism will begin.