On Holy Thursday, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy and performed the consecration of Holy Chrism (myron) at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, marking one of the most sacred rites of the Orthodox Church.

The chrismation process began on April 14, the Monday of Holy Week, at the historic Donskoy Monastery. There, the Patriarch led a special prayer service to initiate the brewing of the holy oil. Following ancient Church tradition, the chrism was prepared over three days, during which priests continuously read the Gospels while deacons stirred the mixture without pause.

Upon completion, the vessels containing the new chrism were transported to Christ the Savior Cathedral. On the evening of Holy Wednesday, they were placed near the altar in preparation for the Thursday Liturgy. That morning, in a solemn ceremony at the cathedral’s western entrance, Patriarch Kirill handed the alabaster—a vessel containing old chrism—to Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov, who carried it into the sanctuary and placed it on the altar.

During the Great Entrance of the Liturgy, the Patriarch received the alabaster once again and set it on the altar beside the newly consecrated chrism. Following the Eucharistic canon, he led the rite of consecration.

In his homily, Patriarch Kirill emphasized that Holy Chrism is more than a fragrant substance—it is a physical vessel of divine grace and a symbol of apostolic continuity in the Church. "The gift of the Holy Spirit, bestowed by the Lord upon the holy apostles and passed down through generations of bishops and priests, is visibly and tangibly present in the Holy Chrism," he said.

He urged clergy and laypeople alike to remain steadfast in the apostolic faith, to strive for unity and spiritual purity, and to remember the healing power of repentance and the sacraments.

Following tradition, the Patriarch poured a portion of the old chrism into each vessel of the newly consecrated oil, symbolizing the unbroken transmission of divine grace. He then refilled the alabaster with fresh chrism, representing the continuous outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church since apostolic times.

At the end of the Liturgy, the alabaster and chrism vessels were taken to the Synodal Residence at Danilov Monastery. The newly consecrated oil will now be distributed to all dioceses of the Moscow Patriarchate.