On 6 May 2024, Easter Monday which traditionally coincides with the age-old Egyptian Spring feast of Shamm al-Nessim, Pope Tawadros II presided over Mass at the cathedral of the monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wadi al-Natroun, some 120km northwest Cairo in Egypt’s Western Desert. Bishops of the Holy Synod and members of the clergy participated in Mass.
Once Mass concluded, the sacred leaven was added to the Holy Chrism (Myron Oil) and Ghalilaon oil which had been prepared at the same cathedral last March.
On 11 March 2024, the first day of Lent, Pope Tawadros was joined by members of the Holy Synod to prepare the Holy Myron Oil. This was the 41st time to prepare Myron in the history of the Coptic Church, and the fourth during the papacy of Pope Tawadros. It was prepared from 27 special oils and sweet spices as mentioned in the book of Exodus and in the Song of Songs. The crucibles containing the Myron and Ghalilaon oils remained in place till Easter Monday when, traditionally, the sacred “leaven” is added to them.
Myron, the Chrism Oil, is used in the Myron Sacrament, also known as the Holy Anointment or the Sacrament of Confirmation. Its preparation is an event which replicates one of the oldest and most revered traditions of the Church, and which takes place ever so often in the Coptic Orthodox Church. The word ‘Myron’ is a Greek word which means ‘ointment’ or ‘fragrant perfume’. Anointment with Myron grants the seal of the Holy Spirit. The sacrament is granted to the baptised directly after baptism, through anointment with 36 crosses all over the body. The baptised then becomes a ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’. Myron is also used to consecrate new churches, altars, altar utensils, and icons. Ghalilaon is derived from a combination of two Greek words meaning the ‘oil of Joy’ or ‘oil of rejoicing’. A person is anointed with this oil before baptism in the ritual of repudiating Satan. Its function is to ward off any evil spirits that might want to lead astray the one being anointed.
On Easter Monday, the Pope and members of the Holy Synod consecrated the crucibles containing the oil, then said 24 prayers, following which the sacred leaven was added to each crucible. The crucibles will continue standing in front of the altar throughout the Khamasseen, the fifty days following Easter that conclude with the Pentecost, when the Myron Oil is finally stored in flasks and sent to the various dioceses.
During his sermon, Pope Tawadros explained that Shamm al-Nessim is the ancient Egyptian Spring feast that was celebrated on the vernal equinox on 21 March. But when Egyptians became Christian, that day always came during Lent, so Copts moved the celebration to Easter Monday.
The Pope reminded that the Myron had been prepared over two days last March and the crucibles were placed in front of the sanctuary at the cathedral, meaning they “attended” every Mass held there during Lent.
Following Mass on Easter Monday, he said, the leaven is added to the oil. Tradition has it that the first who made the Myron were the Apostles from the fragrant oils which had been used for the burial of Jesus Christ and the sweet-smelling spices the women had brought to anoint the body of Jesus, but discovered He was risen from the dead.
When St Mark headed to Alexandria, he took with him some of the Myron made by the Apostles and used it in the Chrism Sacrament. The tradition was handed on to the successive patriarchs until Pope Athanasius (AD 298 – 373) who decided to remake the Myron in Alexandria. A portion of the original oil was used as ‘leaven’ in the newly prepared oil. Today, the tradition still holds, a small portion of the old oil is used to leaven the new one.
The leavened oil will remain in place at the cathedral for 50 days till the Feast of the Pentecost when it will to distributed to all Coptic dioceses.
For details on 41st preparation of Myron:
Holy Myron Oil prepared for 41st time in history of Church, fourth by Pope Tawadros
Watani International
8 May 2024