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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Blessing of the Holy Muron is launched at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Primates of dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church, leaders of Hierarchical Sees of Jerusalem and Constantinople, representatives of the Great House of Cilicia came to participate in the ceremony conducted ones in 7 years.
“Armenpress” reports that the silver pot of Muron is located at the Holy See open-air altar St. Trdat,filled with olive oil mixed with a substance made from 40 spices of herbs. The pot had remained on the Main Altar of Mother Cathedral for 40 days.
After the blessing of the Holy Muron, covered with a veil, will remain on the altar for the believers and pilgrims.
The blessings and consecration of the Holy Muron (Chrism) is a sacred and mysterious service, which is traditionally held once every 5 to 7 years. Muron has two essential elements: olive oil and balsam, which are mixed with more than 40 varieties of incense, flowers, spices, flower essences, oils and leaves. 40 days before the Blessing and Consecration of Muron the caldron filled with pure olive oil, is placed on the altar of the Mother Cathedral and covered with a woven veil. During each of the 40 days, a special service is offered after the evening worship, in preparation for the upcoming Muron Blessing Ceremony.
In the Armenian Church, the right to Bless and Consecrate the Holy Muron is reserved for the Catholicos of All Armenians, who blesses it with three traditional Holy relics of our Church: the Relic of the True Cross, which contains a piece of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord; the Holy Lance ‘Geghard’ which pierced the side of Christ; and the reliquary of the Right Hand of St. Gregory the Illuminator.
The blessing of the Holy Muron is a sacred act for every Armenian. It is a uniting force for Armenians spread all over the world and a powerful tie between the past and present of this small nation.