The answer
While the apostles were baptizing, they laid their hands on the baptized, praying for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14–17; 19:1–6). Also, bishops laid their hands on the believers, immediately after their baptism, so that they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. As the number of those desiring to join the Church of Christ, as well as those born in Christian families, increased, priests began to anoint the newly baptized with the Chrism oil. The word “Chrism” is a Greek (and Coptic) word meaning “perfume” or “ointment.” This fragrant oil is a mixture of perfumes and spices, sanctified by God’s word and prayer, and prepared by bishops. The newly baptized is anointed thirty-six times by the sign of the cross on all their members. This anointing fills one’s entire being with the Holy Spirit and he becomes the Lord’s anointed. However, this anointing does not replace the laying on of hands. In the West, the Chrism or Myron, is known as the sacrament of confirmation. In the early Church, it was known as “the seal of the Spirit” and was administered together with Baptism.
What does this anointing over all the body members point to? Anointing the forehead points to the sanctification of thoughts, anointing the back points to the sanctification of the heart and desires, anointing the eyes, the ears, and the lips points to the sanctification of the senses, anointing the hands and feet points to the sanctification of the believer’s deeds and actions.
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty