Unction of the sick is the Sacrament through which the priest anoints the body of the sick asking for divine
grace to cure both body and soul. It is not an ordinary means of healing diseases and the healing power is
not attributed to the oil but to the prayer. St. James mentions this Sacrament in his Epistle (5:14, 15).
There should be seven or five priests ordinarily, but a smaIler number, even one, is sufficient. The sick
man should be taken to the church but if it is impossible, he is anointed at home. For the anointing both
oil and water are used separately and they are blessed by the priest on each occasion. Water is not essential.
Confession is a part of the rite, and after absolution and anointing, Holy Communion is administered.
The oil with which the sick is anointed is consecrated. Those who consecrate it according to the words of
the Gospel and the Apostle James, are the ministers. The manner of consecrating this holy oil is contained
in the book called "The Book of the Lamp" (Mashaf Quendil) in which there is written a portion of the Gospel
and of the Epistle of the Apostle James. This holy oil is not used on the occasion of any kind of slight sickness,
but only at the time of severe sickness. The anointing profits the sick person both in soul and body.
