The oil of chrism which will be used to anoint King Charles III at his Coronation has been consecrated in Jerusalem.
The oil was consecrated on March 3rd 2023 by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, and by The Most Reverend Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem.
The anointing is one of the most sacred moments in the Coronation and has never been photographed or filmed. After the Monarch has been presented to the people and taken the Coronation oath, they sit in the Coronation chair and a golden canopy is held above them. The Archbishop of Canterbury pours the consecrated oil into the Coronation spoon before anointing the Monarch with it, making a cross on their head, hands and heart. The Monarch then kneels for a prayer.
Queen Camilla will also be anointed before her Coronation with the same oil.
This Chrism oil has been made from olives grown on the Mount of Olives. The trees grow at two monasteries there, the Monastery of the Ascension and the Monastery of Mary Magdalene where King Charles III’s grandmother, Princess Alice, is buried.
As the oil was consecrated, the Archbishop of Canterbury said ”I am honoured and grateful that His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III and Archbishop Hosam Naoum have consecrated the oil that will be used to anoint His Majesty The King. I want to thank especially His Beatitude for providing this Coronation Oil, which reflects The King’s personal family connection with the Holy Land and his great care for its peoples.”
Justin Welby continued ”Since beginning the planning for the Coronation, my desire has been for a new Coronation Oil to be produced using olive oil from the Mount of Olives. This demonstrates the deep historic link between the Coronation, the Bible and the Holy Land. From ancient kings through to the present day, monarchs have been anointed with oil from this sacred place. As we prepare to anoint The King and The Queen Consort, I pray that they would be guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.”
The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla takes place at Westminster Abbey on May 6th 2023.
