Armodoxy for Today: Muiron Communications

St. Gregory of Nareg begins his prayers, “From the depths of my heart, [here is] a conversation with God.” Ascetics, hermits, monks, are said to have a special relationship with the Divine to facilitate conversations, more specifically, dialogues. A conversation with God is always a dialogue, never a monologue. You pray. God answers. You answer. God answers.

The Holy Muiron is a means by which God communicates with us. Herein we begin to understand the Muiron as the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is talking with us always, but often, our receptors are dull or not tuned to the same frequency. The Holy Muiron aligns our receptors with the direction of the Holy Spirit.

The second of the seven Sacraments of the Church is Chrismation. This Sacrament immediately follows Baptism, which is the entry point for an individual into the Life of the Church – the community. With baptism a person is born anew. With chrismation, the individual is now anointed with the means to keep that newness, that freshness, throughout life, against the perils, temptations and challenges that face us.

Invoking the Holy Spirit, the priest chants a hymn, “You, being above the water (a reference to the Holy Spirit during Creation, as described in Genesis), now coming down into the waters of the Font (of Baptism), adorn and restore always Your new church so that her children shine with Your diverse gifts.”

The priest then anoints the person’s forehead with the words, Sweet ointment in the name of Jesus Christ is poured upon you as a seal of incorruptible heavenly gifts. He continues to all of the senses of the body. On the eyes to keep them enlightened. The ears, for the hearing of divine commandments. The nostrils, for a sweet smell to life everlasting. The mouth to speak the words of God. The hands for good works and virtuous deeds. On the heart for a pure and upright spirit. On the back as a shield of strength against evil. And on the feet to direct the journey through life.

The Chrism – the holy Muiron – is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life, talking and directing us always.

We pray, Lord, in Your Truth and in the light of Your Holy Spirit, may I become a temple and dwelling place for your Love and Grace, so I may walk in the paths of Righteousness. Amen.