A 1946 laying on of hands ceremony at the Pentecostal Church of God in Lejunior, Kentucky. The Pentecostal Church of God (PCG is a trinitarian Pentecostal Christian denomination The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America.

The laying on of hands is a religious practice found throughout the world in varying forms. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos In Christian churches, this practice is used as both a symbolic and formal method of invoking the Holy Spirit during baptisms, healing services, blessings, and ordination of priests, ministers, elders, deacons, and other church officers, along with a variety of other church sacraments and holy ceremonies. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Faith healing is the attempt to use Religious or spiritual means such as Prayer, mental practices spiritual insights or other techniques to prevent In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform clergy functions such as teaching of beliefs An elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος; see Presbyter) in Christianity is a person valued for his Wisdom who accordingly holds a particular Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active

History

Judaism

In a larger context, the Christian tradition of the laying on of hands has its roots in Jewish beliefs and practices. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut In biblical times the laying on of hands was an action which conferred blessing or authority. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin To wit, Isaac blessed his son Jacob by laying hands (Genesis 27), and Aaron and the High Priests who succeeded him transferred the sins of the Children of Israel to a sacrificial goat (Leviticus 16:21). According to the Hebrew Bible, Isaac ( Hebrew: Yitzchak יִצְחָק, Standard Yiẓḥaq Jacob ( Hebrew: יַעֲקֹב, Standard   Yaʿaqov Tiberian   Yaʿăqōḇ; This article is about Aaron the Levite in the Hebrew Bible, the Qu'ran, and other sources Kohen Gadol or Kohen ha-Gadol ( Heb כהן גדול "Great Priest" is the title of High Priest of early Israelite scapegoat was a Goat that was driven off into the wilderness as part of the ceremonies of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement in Judaism during the times Leviticus (from Greek Λευιτικός, "relating to the Levites " Finally, in the Old Testament priests were ordained by the laying on of hands. In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. A kohen (or cohen, Hebrew כּהן "priest" pl כּהנִים kohanim or cohanim) has a separate status in Judaism.

Christianity

At priestly ordination the Catholic bishop imposes hands upon the deacon who is by that action and the form of the consecratory preface ordained to the priesthood. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions In liturgical use the term Preface is applied to that portion of the Eucharistic Prayer that immediately precedes the Canon or central portion of the Eucharist Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. The red chasuble the ordinand is wearing is pinned up until the laying on of hands. The chasuble is the outermost liturgical Vestment worn by Clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist in Western-tradition Christian

In the New Testament the laying on of hands was associated with the receiving of the Holy Spirit (See Acts 8:14-19). In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. Initially the Apostles laid hands on new believers as well as believers who were called to a particular service. The Twelve Apostles (Greek apostolos, "someone sent out" e (See Acts 6:5). In the early church, the practice continued and is still used in a wide variety of church ceremonies, such as the ceremony of confirmation, where a bishop, priest, or minister lays hands on the confirmand and prays for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c Confirmation is a Rite of initiation in many Christian Churches normally in the form of Laying on of hands and/or Anointing for A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Many churches also lay hands on a person when commissioning them to particular work, such as missionary or pastoral service. A missionary is a member of a Religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith someone who proselytizes. A pastor is an official person within a Protestant group of people and related to the positions of Priest or Bishop within the Anglican, Roman Catholic

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the chrism which is used at chrismation and the anointing of sovereigns is believed to be descended directly from oil which the Apostles blessed and laid their hands on. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Chrism (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing" also called "Myrrh" ( Myron) "Holy Oil" or "Consecrated Oil" is a Consecrated Chrismation is the name given in Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches as well as in the Assyrian Church of the East To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races This is added to as needed by the Primates of the Autocephalous Churches, and is dispersed to priests for their use in administering the Sacred Mysteries (Sacraments). Primate (from the Latin Primus, "first" is a title or rank bestowed on some Bishops in certain Christian churches Autocephaly, in Hierarchical Christian churches and especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches is the status of a hierarchical church whose The term sacred mysteries generally denotes the area of Supernatural phenomena associated with a Divinity or a religious ideology. The presentation of this chrism which has received the laying on of hands, together with an antimension is the manner in which a bishop bestows faculties upon a priest under his omophorion (i. The Antimension ( Greek "instead of the table" Slavonic: Antimíns) is one of the most important furnishings of the Altar in many A faculty is a Legal instrument or warrant in Canon law, especially a Judicial or Quasi-judicial warrant from an Ecclesiastical In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgical tradition the omophorion ( Greek:; Slavonic: омофоръ omofor) e. , under his authority).

Patriarch Alexius II of Moscow and All Russia together with other bishops consecrate a new bishop. Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a Pater familias over an extended family Metropolitans Maximus ( 1283 - 1305) St Peter ( 1308 - 1326) vacant Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight The ordination of a bishop—and thus the continuation of apostolic succession—takes place through a ritual centered on the laying on of hands (Cheirotonia) and prayer. In general religious use ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as Clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies The laying on of hands is a religious practice found throughout the world in varying forms Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit A Gospel Book is placed over the bishop-elect's head, and then the consecrating bishops place their hands on the Gospel. The Gospel Book, or Book of the Gospels ( Greek:, Evangélion) is a Codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels

The Orthodox also use laying on of hands for the ordination (called Cheirotonia) of the higher clergy (bishops, priests and deacons) which is distinguished from the blessing (called Cheirothesia) of the lower clergy (taper bearers, readers and subdeacons). The laying on of hands is a religious practice found throughout the world in varying forms An altar server or Acolyte is a lay assistant to a member of the Clergy during a religious service In some Christian churches the Reader is responsible for reading aloud excerpts of the Scripture at a Liturgy. Subdeacon (or sub-deacon is a title used in various branches of Christianity. Priests and deacons receive the laying on of hands by a single bishop, bishops are consecrated by three or more bishops. Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious The laying on of hands is also performed at the end of the Mystery (Sacrament) of Unction. To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races This Mystery is usually performed by seven priests. Six of the priests lay their hands on a Gospel Book which has been placed over the head of the one being anointed, while the senior priest reads a prayer. The Gospel Book, or Book of the Gospels ( Greek:, Evangélion) is a Codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels

In its healing form, the laying on of hands is based on biblical precedent set by Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) This is a popular Jesuit ceremony in which prayer for forgiveness is often the prelude that along with the cleansing of one's spirit, creates union with the Holy Spirit. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order Both Christian and non-Christian faith healers will lay hands on people when praying for healing, and often the name of Jesus is invoked as the spiritual agency through which the healing of physical ailments is believed to be obtained.

In the Latter Day Saint (LDS) movement, a Patriarchal blessing is given by the laying on of hands of a Patriarch (also called an Evangelist) to a church member. Please see the talk page for this article and the "See also" list before adding content or adding a hyphen to Latter Day Saint In the Latter Day Saint movement, a patriarchal blessing (also called an evangelist's blessing) is a blessing or ordinance given by a patriarch See also Evangelist (Latter Day Saints In the Latter Day Saint movement, Patriarch (also called Evangelist) is an office of the Priesthood The recipient must have previously received a recommend for the blessing from their bishop, which is only given after an interview to determine the recipient's worthiness. Bishop is the highest priesthood office of the Aaronic priesthood in the Latter Day Saint movement. The purpose of a patriarchal blessing is (1) to identify the tribe of Israel to which a Latter-day Saint belongs, (2) to bless the member with knowledge and spiritual gifts, (3) to give advice or help to the individual (often this includes foretelling of possible future events, opportunities, and temptations). See also History of ancient Israel and Judah According to the Bible, the Israelites were the dominant group living in the Land of Israel. Within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a patriarchal blessing is considered to be actual revelation for the recipient, with the promises made in the blessing considered conditional upon the recipient's obedience to gospel principles. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Furthermore, the practice of laying on of hands is employed to bless the sick, to ordain males to offices in the priesthood, and to set church officers apart in their duties.

European monarchs

"The royal gift of healing": Charles II of England depicted in a popular contemporary print. Charles II (Charles Stuart 29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685 was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The laying on of hands, known as "the Divine Touch," was performed by kings in England and France, and was believed to cure scrofula, a name given to a number of skin diseases. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Scrofula ( scrophula or struma) is any of a variety of Skin diseases in particular a form of Tuberculosis, affecting the Lymph nodes The rite of the king's touch began in France with Robert II the Pious, but legend later attributed the practice to Clovis as Merovingian founder of the Holy Roman kingdom, and Edward the Confessor in England. Robert II ( 27 March 972 &ndash 20 July 1031) called the Pious or the Wise, was King of France from 996 Clovis I (c 466 &ndash 27 November 511) was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Frankish tribes under one ruler The Merovingians (also Merovings) were a Salian Frankish dynasty that came to rule the Franks in a region (known as Francia in Latin The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in King Edward the Confessor (c 1003 &ndash 5 January 1066 son of Ethelred the Unready, was the penultimate Anglo-Saxon King of England and the last The belief continued to be common throughout the Middle Ages but began to die out with the Enlightenment. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century Queen Anne was the last British monarch to claim to possess this divine ability, though the Jacobite pretenders also claimed to do so. Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714 became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702 succeeding William III of England and II of Jacobitism was (and to a limited extent remains the political movement dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland A pretender is a claimant to an abolished throne or to a throne already occupied by somebody else The French monarchy continued to believe and perform the act up until the French Revolution. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an The act was usually performed at large ceremonies, often at Easter or other holy days. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year.

Catharism and other heretical Christian sects

A Cathar Perfect, the highest initiate in the Cathar hierarchy after spending time as a Listener and then Believer, had to undergo a rigorous training of three years before being inducted as a member of the spirtual elite of the now defunct religious movement. This took place during a ceremony in which various Scriptural extracts were quoted, including, most particularly, the opening verses of the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John (literally According to John; Greek, Κατὰ Ἰωάννην Kata Iōannēn) is the fourth Gospel in the canon The ceremony was completed by a ritual laying on of hands as the candidate vowed to abjure the world and accept the Holy Spirit. In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance At this point, the Perfecti believed, the Holy Spirit was able to descend and dwell within the new Perfect - hence the austere lifestyle needed to provide a pure dwelling place for the Spirit. In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance Once in this state of housing the Holy Spirit within themselves, the Perfect were believed to have become "trans-material" or semi-angelic, not yet released from the confines of the body but containing within them an enhanced spirituality which linked them to God even in this world, as expressed in the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of Luke (Gk Κατά Λουκάν Ευαγγέλιον) is a synoptic Gospel, and is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels of the The Cathars were decimated and annihilated as a sect during the Roman Catholic Church's Albigensian Crusade in 1208, which killed tens of thousands of people and is considered the first recorded European genocide. The Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade (1209&ndash1229 was a 20-year military campaign initiated by the Roman Catholic Church to eliminate the Cathar Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction in whole or in part of an ethnic racial religious or national group

See also

• Faith healing
• Reiki
• Priesthood blessing

References

• New Bible Dictionary (ISBN 0-85110-630-7)
• "H.B. Swete, Laying on of hands"
• "Imposition of Hands", Catholic Encyclopedia
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Ordination