Chrism - Christ

The words chrism and Christ are both derived from the Greek verb χρῖσμειν chrismein) 'to anoint', 'to smear with oil'. In Christian use, it still means 'to anoint' - specifically with consecrated oil.

• Chrism is the consecrated oil used in such anointing. It is consecrated by a Bishop in those western churches (mostly Roman Catholicand Anglican) that use chrism; in the Eastern Orthodox Church, by a Patriarch. It is usually composed of olive oil and a sweetener, usually balsam.
  • Chrismation is a rite of anointing. Specifically, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox Church immediately after baptism; in the Roman Catholic church chrismation is an alternative name for the sacrament of confirmation, normally carried out in that church at the age of 7 or soon afterwards (the 'age of discretion'). It usually precedes, or follows hard upon, the 'first communion', the sign that the person who receives it has entered full membership of the Church by receiving instruction in the Faith (being taught about the church) and renewing the baptismal vows made by godparents.
• Christ, the title of Jesus of Nazareth, believed by Christians to be the Son of God, means 'anointed'. In this context Christ (Greek χριστος, 'christos') is a literal translation of the Hebrew māšīaḥ 'anointed', the past participle of the verb māšaḥ to anoint. 'Christ', therefore, is the Christian term for the exact equivalent of the Jewish Messiah.
  • Many other words are derived from Christ, such as Christian. Christianity, christen, christendom and Christmas