site.btaNinth Confecting of Chrism in Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s Recent History Begins on Holy Monday

The ninth confecting of chrism in the latest history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church began on Great and Holy Monday. The confecting is taking place in the narthex of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, following the order for brewing myrrh, the press office of the Bulgarian Patriarchate said.

On Holy Monday, a celebration of a divine liturgy was followed by a blessing of waters by Patriarch Daniil, who then blessed the vessels and the ingredients, and poured some of the blessed water into the cauldron for confecting chrism. Then priests added white wine and olive oil, while His Holiness read the first text from the Gospel as provided by the order. Priests and deacons remained for the brewing and took turns reading the holy Gospel while wearing sacred vestments.

Following a divine liturgy at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Holy Tuesday, the remaining wine olive oil will be added, and brewing will continue until evening. The mixture of aromatic herbs, resins and essential oils will be composed the same day.

After the last divine liturgy for the church year is celebrated at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Holy Wednesday, the confecting of the chrism will be completed when Patriarch Daniil adds the already prepared essential oils, resins and aromatic herbs. At 6:00 pm, the ready chrism will be poured into copper vessels called chalkoma prepared for this purpose.

The so-called alabaster is placed on the table of oblation in anticipation of the service. Alabaster is the special vessel containing old blessed chrism. On Holy Thursday, before the beginning of the divine liturgy, Patriarch Daniil, the Holy Synod and the clergy will take the new chrism inside the altar and proceed with the order of blessing the new chrism.

The same day, after the liturgy a litya procession of the clergy and laity will take the alabaster and the newly consecrated chrism to the building of the Holy Synod. There they will be stored in a special chamber for the purpose, directly under the chapel dedicated to St. Tsar Boris the Christianizer.

The rite of confecting chrism is reserved for autocephalous churches. 

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church confected chrism for the first time in April 1950, an event of enormous significance which drew considerable attention. The compilation order for confecting chrism was commissioned to the then Vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia, Bishop Parthenios of Leukis, who compiled the Order for Confecting Chrism on the basis of the existing orders of the Ecumenical, Russian and Romanian Orthodox churches. This order continues to be used to this day.

On March 23, Patriarch Daniil blessed the beginning of the cycle of sanctification of the Holy Chrism.