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[[Image:Chrismation.jpg|right|thumb|A priest administering the sacred Chrism on a newly chrismated woman]]
{{spirituality}}
'''Chrismation''' (sometimes called '''confirmation''') is the [[sacramentHoly Mysteries|holy mystery]] by which a [[baptism|baptized]] person is granted the gift of the [[Holy Spirit]] through anointing with oil. As Baptism is a personal participation in the death and [[Pascha|Resurrection]] of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]], so Chrismation is a personal participation in the coming of the Holy Spirit at [[Pentecost]].
==Theology and Practice ==
Chrismation is practiced by anointing the new Christian with '''[[chrism]]''' which is holy oil (Gk. '''''myron'''''). The myron is a "mixture of forty sweet-smelling substances and pure olive oil" (Gialopsos, 35). The Christian is anointed with this oil in the sign of the Cross on his forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, breast, hands and feet. Each time, the priest administering the sacrament says, "The Seal and Gift of the Holy Spirit."
The Sacrament of chrismation is an extension of the Day of [[Pentecost]], on which the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Apostles. It is by Chrismation that a person becomes a layperson – a member of the ''laos'', the people of God. Bishop [[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia]] explains:
:Through Chrismation every member of the Church becomes a prophet, and receives a share in the royal priesthood of Christ; all Christians alike, because they are chrismated, are called to act as conscious witnesses to the Truth. 'You have an anointing (''chrisma'') from the Holy One, and know all things' ([[I John]] 2:20) (Ware, 279).
