Chrismation

Oversimplified

• The sacrament, given immediately after baptism, in which the newly-baptized is anointed with holy chrism and sealed with "the gift of the Holy Spirit."
• The Orthodox "confirmation" — but given at once, even to infants, so that initiation into Christ is complete in a single rite.

Summary

Chrismation follows Baptism without delay: the priest anoints the brow, eyes, ears, hands, and feet with holy chrism (myron), saying "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit." It corresponds to the apostolic laying-on of hands by which the baptized received the Spirit (Acts 8.17, Acts 19.6) and to the "anointing from the Holy One" of which St. John speaks (1 John 2.20).

The personal Pentecost

If baptism unites us to Christ's death and resurrection, chrismation is each Christian's personal Pentecost — the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit. Because the Church gives it with baptism, even infants are full members who may receive the Eucharist.[^1] See Baptism, The Holy Spirit, Eucharist, Catechesis.

[^1]: St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Lectures, on the meaning of the chrism.