The Sacrament of Holy Unction is a Sacrament of Divine Sanction by which Divine Grace imparts to the afflicted, through anointing with oil, the healing of both body and soul. It pre—supposes a sick person, the calling of the Presbyters of the Church to pray over the sick person, the anointing with oil in the name of the LORD, the reading of prayers of Faith and the invocation of the Grace of GOD to heal the body and forgive sin. JAMES 5:14—15

The ceremony of the anointing with oil of the person who is sick bodily or spiritually is not a mere physical healing stemming from the oil itself but also is the absolution of sins, which is not related to the therapeutic power of oil. Furthermore, the healing depends on prayers of Faith, not merely upon the oil itself, for "THE PRAYER OF FAITH WILL SAVE THE SICK MAN AND THE LORD WILL RAISE HIM UP."

The perceptible signs of the Sacrament are the anointing with sanctified oil and the PRAYER OF FAITH. The invisible sign is the Divine Grace imparted both for the healing of the body and remissions of sins. However, the healing of the body depends on GOD’S Will, which is unknown to man, but the purpose is always the salvation of man, for CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS. The Orthodox Confession of Faith states that in Holy Unction the fruits of the absolution of sins and the healing of body are found. However, while healing of the body may not always be attained, the absolution of the sins of the soul of the repentant sick person always occurs. Apostle James stressed: IF HE HAS COMMITFED SINS, HE WILL BE FORGIVEN. Fruits of the Sacrament of Holy Unction are the absolution of sin, which often is the cause of bodily ills, through prayer and oil as the carriers of Divine Grace.

Tradition records that seven Presbyters could be present to administer the Sacrament, but a lesser number of Priests present does not lessen the validity of the Sacrament. The anointing with oil of the various parts of the body of the believer includes the forehead, cheeks, and hands. The recipient of the Sacrament of Holy Unction should be prepared spiritually to actively participate in it through prayer and Faith. Although bodily afflictions may not be cured, the recipient should accept the Will of GOD and not consider this as a rebuke or a failure to gain absolution of sins. The absolution of sins is granted to the recipient who has sincere Faith in GOD’S Will and constant prayers, although GOD’S Will may not be manifest in bodily cures.