Part IV: Dogma and Ritual Questions · 38

When Should the Holy Chrism (Myron) be ' Made?

Faith Q&A › Many Years with People's Questions › Part IV

The question

The making of the Chrism, the Holy Myron used in baptism and consecration, was sometimes carried out in the sixth week of the Lent and sometimes in the Pascha (passion week). Which of them is more suitable?

The answer

In actual fact, it is better not to make the Holy Myron during the Pascha days.

This is because the readings for preparing the unction are different from those for Holy Week, and their times are different too. Also the days of Passion Week are totally taken up with remembering the sufferings of Christ. So how can we properly divert our attention during this time to making the Holy Myron? These are also days of sorrow, while the making of the Myron requires more of a festival spirit, for which the piety of fasting, rather than the sadness of the Passion, is more appropriate. The original method dating from the time of St Athanasius was not to make it during the Holy Pascha. ((( ((

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Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory

Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory, Many Years with People's Questions, Part IV: Dogma and Ritual Questions. Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. Translated by Mrs. Glynis Younan, London. Revised by Mrs. Wedad Abbas. First edition, August 1992. Revised COEPA 1997. ISBN 977-5319-0-2-1.