« Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Sacrament of Unction at Dormition Cathedral in London »
06-03-2026 
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, the first Sacrament of Unction of Lent was celebrated at Dormition Cathedral in London. Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Rector of the church, presided over the service.
His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Maxim Nikolsky; Archpriest Vitaly Polishchuk, Dean of the Diocesan District of South East England; Archpriest Dmitry Nedostupenko, Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh; Archpriest Nikita Kozlov; Priest Alexander Kapustin; and Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch.
Following the Sacrament, His Grace addressed the clergy and parishioners with words of spiritual edification. Simultaneous translation into English was provided by Archdeacon Vadim Santsevitch.
Unction is a sacrament in which the body is anointed with oil, invoking God's grace to heal spiritual and physical ailments. The history of this sacrament goes back to the apostles, who, having received the power to heal illnesses from Jesus Christ, "anointed many sick people with oil and healed them" (Mark 6:13).
During the celebration of the sacrament, seven texts from the Apostolic Epistles and seven from the Gospel are read. After each reading, the priest anoints the forehead, cheeks, chest, and hands of the person being anointed with holy oil. After the final reading of Holy Scripture, he places the open Gospel on the head of the sick person and prays for the forgiveness of their sins.
The Sacrament of Unction forgives forgotten sins, which is why both the sick and the healthy strive to receive it at least once a year.
Unction requires faith and repentance. After or before the Sacrament of Unction, Orthodox Christians typically try to confess and receive Holy Communion.Desiring healing from an illness, a person must first and foremost absolve themselves of their sins.