Rites of healing in the tradition of the Orthodox Church: historical formation and pastoral ministry
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article is devoted to a theological, historical-liturgical, and pastoral analysis of healing rites in the tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church. The relevance of this study stems from the widespread formal and superstitious attitude toward the sacrament of Unction and prayers for healing in the modern secular world, which are often perceived as “ritual insurance” or a magical remedy. This requires priests to provide meaningful, spiritually oriented pastoral care to the sick and to overcome a consumerist approach to the Church’s grace-filled assistance. The study utilizes historical-chronological, theological, historical-liturgical, and comparative methods, allowing us to trace the evolution of healing practices from Old Testament prototypes through the New Testament reinterpretation of healing as a sign of the Kingdom of God to the stable liturgical forms enshrined in modern service books. The scientific novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive understanding of healing rites, encompassing their ontological foundation, historical development, and practical application, as well as in identifying criteria for pastoral distinctions between canonical prayers and apocryphal texts of a conjuring nature. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of contemporary church practice of performing prayer services and the sacrament of Unction, as well as common distortions in the perception of these sacred rites. As a result, the authors demonstrated that genuine healing in the Orthodox tradition is accomplished through the synergy of medical care, personal repentance, and the prayerful support of the Church. Pastoral ministry at the sickbed should not be reduced to the mechanical performance of rites, but rather a living participation in the person’s fate, revealing the providential meaning of suffering and facilitating the restoration of communion with God, the repentant transformation of the soul, and, ultimately, salvation in Christ.
Authors: Vladimir A. Sergunin, Pavel G. Oleynik
Subfield: History
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7214294635