What is the role of the Holy Chrism in the life of the believer?

In the sacrament of baptism, the believer experiences the work of the Holy Spirit in the waters of baptism, receives the new birth, and acquires the nature of the new man according to the image of his Creator. The believer is born as a child under the faithful care of the Church and is in constant need of growth and maturity to be truly prepared for the eternal wedding. Then his soul becomes the bride who daily reflects the light of her Bridegroom, the King of kings. All this is what the word of God as well as the Church Fathers’ commentaries, would like us to experience through the chrismation.

St. Macarius the Great says, “And thus the commandments of the Lord being fulfilled by us through His Spirit, who alone knows the will of the Lord, and the Spirit having perfected us in Himself and Himself perfected in us, when we are once cleansed from every defilement and spot of sin, He will present our souls pure and faultless, like fair brides, to Christ, we resting in God in His kingdom, and God resting in us world without end.”¹³⁸³

Our God wishes to make from His people a heavenly queen, bearing the icon of her Bridegroom, the King of kings. He grants us the daily experience of the work of the Holy Spirit within us, whom we have received in the holy sacrament of chrismation.