Let us now proceed to that, which follows the prayer mentioned.
When the Hierarch has finished it, he first salutes the fallen asleep, and next, all who are present; for dear and honored by all Godlike men is he who has been perfected in a Divine life.After the salutation, the Hierarch pours the oil upon the man fallen asleep. And remember, that during the sacred Birth from God, before the most Divine Baptism, a first participation of a holy symbol is given to the man initiated—the oil of Chrism--after the entire removal of the former clothing; and now, at the conclusion of all, the Oil is poured upon the man fallen asleep.
Then indeed the anointing with the Oil summoned the initiated to the holy contests; and now the Oil poured upon him shews the fallen asleep to have struggled, and to have been made perfect, throughout those same contests.
St. Dionysius the Areopagite
