THE BLESSING OF THE HOLY MURON

Today is a day like no other—a day filled with God’s presence, His anointing, His grace, and His Holy Spirit! We have gathered here, at the very heart of our faith, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, for a sacred moment—the Blessing of the Holy Muron by the hand of His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians.

Throughout Scripture and history of the Christian Chruch, the oil has been used for anointing. Kings and prophets were anointed with oil, patriarch and priests were anointed with oil, children at their baptism and even the sick were healed by anointing with oil. The oil represents the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, moving in our lives, empowering us, and marking us as God’s chosen people. And today, this Holy Muron, this sacred oil, is a sign that God’s Spirit is alive and working in His church and in each of us.

At our baptism, each one of us was anointed with the Holy Muron. That anointing wasn’t just a ritual; it was God’s way of sealing us with His Holy Spirit. When the Holy Muron was placed on our forehead, we were marked as His children—set apart for His divine purpose. That anointing has power! It means we carry God’s presence within us every day. When we were baptized and anointed, God was saying, “You are mine. I have chosen you. My Spirit is with you.”

Holy Muron is a reminder that we are never alone. The Holy Spirit is with us every step of the way. When life feels overwhelming, when the challenges seem too big, when you don’t know how you’ll make it through, remember—you are anointed. You’ve got the power of the Holy Spirit resting on you. You’ve got the favor of God guiding you. You’ve got the strength of heaven backing you up.

Today, as we witness the blessing of the Holy Muron, let it be an occasion for us to reflect on our own baptismal anointing and remind us that God’s Spirit is with us. He’s working through us, guiding us, empowering us to fulfill the purposes He has for our lives. We’re not walking through life in our own strength. We’re walking with the Holy Spirit, the power of the living God. And with Him by our side, nothing is impossible.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
September 29, 2024