Editing Confirmation (section)

===Eastern Churches===
{{main|Chrismation}}
[[File:Baptism at a Georgian church.jpg|thumb|Chrismation of a newly baptized infant at a [[Georgian Orthodox church]]]]
The [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]], [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]] and [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic churches]] refer to this sacrament (or, more properly, [[Sacred Mystery]]) as chrismation, a term which western rite Catholics also use; for instance, in Italian the term is {{Lang|it|cresima}}. Eastern Christians link chrismation closely with the [[Sacred mysteries#Eastern Christianity|sacred mystery]] of baptism, conferring it immediately after baptism, which is normally on [[infant baptism|infants]].

The [[Sacred Tradition|sacred tradition]] of the Orthodox Church teaches that the Apostles themselves established the practice of anointing with [[chrism]] (consecrated oil) in place of the laying on of hands when bestowing the sacrament. As the numbers of [[religious conversion|converts]] grew, it became physically impossible for the apostles to lay hands upon each of the newly baptized. So the Apostles laid hands upon a vessel of oil, bestowing the Holy Spirit upon it, which was then distributed to all of the [[presbyter]]s (priests) for their use when they baptized.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pomazansky |first=[[Protopresbyter]] Michael |year=1973 |publication-date=1984 |title=Orthodox Dogmatic Theology |page=272 |place=Platina, California |publisher=Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood |lccn=84-051294}}</ref> The same chrism is in use to this day, never being completely depleted but newly [[consecrated]] chrism only being added to it as needed (this consecration traditionally is performed only by the [[primate (bishop)|primates]] of certain [[Autocephaly|autocephalous churches]] on [[Great Thursday]]) and it is believed that chrism in use today contains some small amount of the original chrism made by the apostles.

When Catholics and traditional Protestants, such as Lutherans and Anglicans, convert to Orthodoxy, they are often admitted by chrismation, without baptism; but, since this is a matter of [[economy (Eastern Orthodoxy)|local episcopal discretion]], a bishop may require all converts to be admitted by baptism if he deems it necessary. Depending upon the form of the original baptism, some Protestants must be baptized upon conversion to Orthodoxy. A common practice is that those persons who have been previously baptized by triple immersion in the name of the Trinity do not need to be baptized. However, requirements will differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and some traditional Orthodox jurisdictions prefer to baptize all converts. When a person is received into the church, whether by baptism or chrismation, they will often take the name of a saint, who will become their [[patron saint]]. Thenceforward, the [[feast day]] of that saint will be celebrated as the convert's [[name day]], which in traditional Orthodox cultures is celebrated in lieu of one's birthday.

The Orthodox rite of chrismation takes place immediately after baptism and clothing the "newly illumined" (i.e., newly baptized) in their [[baptismal robe]]. The priest makes the [[sign of the cross]] with the [[chrism]] (also referred to as [[myrrh]]) on the brow, eyes, nostrils, lips, both ears, breast, hands and feet of the newly illumined, saying with each [[anointing]]: "The seal of the gift of the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]]. Amen." Then the priest will place his [[epitrachelion]] (stole) over the newly illumined and leads them and their [[godparents|sponsors]] in a procession, circling three times around the [[Gospel Book]], while the choir chants each time: "As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia" (Galatians 3:27).<ref>{{bibleverse|Galatians|3:27|KJV}}</ref>

The reason the Eastern Churches perform chrismation immediately after baptism is so that the newly baptized may receive Holy Communion, which is commonly given to infants as well as adults.

An individual may be [[emergency baptism|baptized ''in extremis'']] (in a life-threatening emergency) by any baptized member of the church; however, only a priest or bishop may perform the mystery of chrismation. If someone who has been baptized ''in extremis'' survives, the priest then performs the chrismation.

The Catholic Church does not confirm converts to Catholicism who have been chrismated in a non-Catholic Eastern church, considering that the sacrament has been validly conferred and [[sacramental character|may not be repeated]].
 
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] the sacrament may be conferred more than once and it is customary to receive returning or repentant apostates by repeating chrismation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Learn about the Orthodox Christian Faith – Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America – Orthodox Church |url=https://www.goarch.org/library |access-date=11 May 2023 |website=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America |language=en-US |archive-date=19 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119113153/http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7101 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Eastern Orthodox Christian Baptism – explanation, service, scriptures |url=https://www.orthodox.net/articles/baptism.html |access-date=11 May 2023 |website=www.orthodox.net |archive-date=11 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511173150/https://www.orthodox.net/articles/baptism.html |url-status=live }}</ref>