Holy Chrism
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Ex. 30:25, 1 Chron. 9:30)—a special compound of aromatic substances for sacred anointing. In the Old Testament it was, by the command of God, compounded of pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and oil, or olive oil. “Thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil,” the Lord commanded Moses (Ex. 30:23–25). With this chrism, by the command of God, were anointed: first the Tabernacle with all its furnishings, and then Aaron and his sons, for the sacred service of God. In later times, not only priests but also kings and prophets were anointed with chrism.
The Lord Jesus is called Christ, or the Anointed One, because to His humanity were imparted, without measure, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and thus to Him belongs, in the highest degree, the knowledge of a prophet, the holiness of a high priest, and the power of a king.