HEALING EFFECT OF THE ACT OF HOLY ANOINTING OIL IN THE RITUAL OF HOLY UNCTION

Illness and suffering are closely related to post-Adamic human existence. Orthodox spirituality teaches us that God never allows suffering beyond endurance. Present suffering is also proportional with one's personal sins or virtues. So that the most afflicted ones either the most sinful or the most righteous. Thus man discovers that meaning of suffering is that of partaking of the passions of Christ and then suffering becomes a ladder ascending towards heaven. The Mystery of the Holy Unction shares grace healing of soul and cure diseases of the body with holy anointing oil by the prayers of the priests. In the Sacrament of Holy Unction, the prayers for the sick do not require bodily healing and good health, but rather the ailing person is entrusted to the mercy and care of God, who in His providence knows all that one needs for acquiring eternal bliss and salvation. In our research, we intend to prove the vision of Church that Christ is the only Doctor of bodies and souls, who by means of the matter employed in the Holy Mysteries, touches the ailing man and grants him the healing of both body and soul.Thus the Mystery of the Holy Unction should not perceived as a thaumaturgical, magic or medical act, but rather as living way of coming into contact with Christ.