Holy Muron
The Holy Anointing Oil of the Armenian Church is called the Holy Muron. The church holds a special reverence for the continuity factor of the oil. According to tradition, a portion of the Holy Anointing Oil of Exodus 30, which Moses and Aaron had blessed, still remained in Jesus' time. Jesus Christ blessed this oil and then gave some of it to Thaddeus, who took the holy oil to Armenia and healed King Abkar of a terrible skin disease by anointing him with the holy oil. Saint Thaddeus is said to have buried a bottle of the Holy Anointing Oil in Daron under an evergreen tree. Saint Gregory the Illuminator discovered the hidden treasure and mixed it with muron that he had blessed. It is said that “To this day, whenever a new batch of muron is prepared and blessed, a few drops of the old one go into it, so that the Armenian muron always contains a small amount of the original oil blessed by Moses, Jesus Christ, and Gregory the Illuminator.”[1]
The Holy Muron is composed of olive oil and forty-eight aromas and flowers. The remaining portion of the previous blessed holy oil is poured into the newly prepared oil during the blessing ceremony and passes the blessing from generation to generation. It is said that this very procedure has been followed for nearly 1700 years. The Catholicos of all Armenians in Etchmiadzin combines a new mixture of Holy Muron in the cauldron every seven years using a portion of the holy muron from the previous blend. This is distributed to all of the Armenian churches throughout the world. Before Christianity, Muron was reserved solely for the enthroning of royalty and for very special events. In later years, it was used with extreme unction and to heal the sick, and to anoint ordained clergy.[2]
Ingredients
The following is a list of the 48 aromas and flowers used to prepare the Holy Myron (Chrism)
| English | Armenian Translit | Armenian | Russian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balsam oil | Palasan | Balsam oil | Balsam oil |
| Olive oil | Tzet | ||
| Carnation | Mekhag | ||
| Nutmeg | Mshgenguyze | ||
| Sweet Flag | Pagheshdag | ||
| Spikenard | Hntig Nartos | ||
| Gooseberry | Sev Peran | ||
| Cinnamon | Tariseng | ||
| Incense | Khunk | Խունկ | |
| Cyclamen | Archedag | ||
| Crocus | Kerkoum | ||
| Sweet Marjoram | Marzanon | ||
| Hors elder | Geghmough | ||
| Camel's hair | Vaghmeroug | ||
| Hazel-wort | Merouandag | ||
| Chamomile | Yeritsoug | ||
| Violet | Manushak buravet | Մանուշակ բուրավետ | |
| Water Lily | Nounoufar | ||
| Orange flower | Narnchatzaghig | ||
| Allspice | Tarabeghbegh | ||
| Laurel | Tapnee | ||
| Myrtle | Mourd | ||
| Narcissus | Nargiz | ||
| Laurel seed | Tapnehound | ||
| Laurel flower | Tapnetzaghig | ||
| Crystal tea | Ladan | ||
| Ginger | Godjabeghbegh | ||
| Mastic | Mazdakeh | ||
| Musk | Moushg | ||
| Hyacinth | Hagint | ||
| Orange flower water | Narinchatzaghigi chour | ||
| Rose water | Varti chour | ||
| Aloes | Haloueh | ||
| Cardamon | Antridag | ||
| Sandal | Jantan | ||
| Rose | Vart | ||
| Olibanum | Gntroug | ||
| Styrax / Oleoresina Styrax | Staghi / Styuraks benzoakan | Ստյուրակս բենզոական | |
| Galingale | Giberis | ||
| Cubeb | Hntgabeghbegh | ||
| Lavender | Housam | ||
| Rosemary | Khengounee | ||
| Lemon balm | Tor | ||
| Spearmint | Ananoukh | ||
| Wild mint | Taghtz | ||
| Basil | Rahan | ||
| Thyme | Tuem | ||
| Summer Savory | Tzotrin | ||
Process
References
- ↑ Abrahamian, Nyree, The blessing of the Muron: Behind the ritualReporter.am
- ↑ Armenian Heritage, The Blessing of the Holy Muron