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The healing ministry of Jesus Christ is a primary task of the Church. This work describes the healing ministry of the Church as it is expressed in Scripture, Tradition, and the liturgical life, focusing particularly on the sacrament of the anointing of the . The author discusses both the history and theology of this sacrament, which has its roots in the Tradition of the Church as expressed in James 5.14 15: Is any among you ? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. The theology of this rite embraces the whole person and addresses the connection between sin and ness, and the disintegrating power of illness on a person and the reintegrating power of grace. A new translation of the rite is appended, as well as an abbreviated version for use in a hospital or home setting. CONTENTS Introduction 1-The Healing Ministry of the Church Jesus the Healer The Healing Ministry in the Apostolic Church Baptism: Sacrament of Healing Eucharist: Medicine of Immortality The Life in Christ 2-A Brief History of the Rite of Anointing the The Early Church The Byzantine Tradition The Contemporary Rite The Celebration of the Rite 3-Theology of the Rite of Anointing ness and Sin The Experience of ness Healing 4-What Can Be Done? Some Pastoral Suggestions Restoring the Ministry of Healing in the Parish The General Anointing on Holy Wednesday Celebrating the Rite What about Ministry to Non-Orthodox? Conclusion Christ's Ultimate Victory Appendix 1 The Rite of Anointing of the Appendix 2 An Abbreviated Rite of Anointing Suggestions for further reading