Russian Orthodox Last Rites — Holy Unction and the Office of the Parting of the Soul

The Orthodox Approach to the Dying Process

The Russian Orthodox Church does not use the term "last rites" the way Roman Catholicism does. There is no single sacrament reserved exclusively for the moment of death. Instead, the Church offers a sequence of sacramental and liturgical acts — Confession, Holy Communion, Holy Unction, and the Canon on the Departure of the Soul — that together provide spiritual care for the dying person and comfort for the family.

The critical pastoral instruction: call the priest as early as possible. These prayers and sacraments are most effective and most meaningful when administered while the person is still conscious and able to participate. Waiting until the final moments reduces what the priest can offer.

Holy Unction (Elesvyaschenie)

Holy Unction is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, and it is often misunderstood as an exclusively "death-bed" ritual. It is not. The sacrament is properly understood as a prayer for healing — physical, spiritual, and emotional — and it is administered to the sick at any stage of illness, not only when death is imminent.

During the service, the priest anoints the sick person with blessed oil on the forehead, hands, and other parts of the body while reading seven sets of prayers drawn from the Epistles and Gospels. Each reading addresses God's power to heal and to comfort those who suffer.

When administered to a terminally ill person, the purpose shifts subtly: it becomes a prayer for God to grant healing if it is His will, and for peace and spiritual strength if the illness will end in death. The sacrament does not attempt to predict or control the outcome. It places the person and their suffering in God's hands.

For families: Holy Unction can be served at the hospital bedside, in a hospice, or at home. The priest brings the oil, Gospel book, and liturgical items. The duration depends on the local service and how much is sung versus read. If the person is unconscious, tell the priest; he will determine what anointing and prayers are appropriate.

Confession and Holy Communion

Ideally, a seriously ill Orthodox Christian receives Confession and Holy Communion before Unction, while they are still able to speak and swallow. Confession allows the person to reconcile with God; Communion unites them with Christ in the Eucharist.

If the person is no longer able to speak or swallow, tell the priest; he will determine which prayers and sacraments are appropriate under the circumstances.

The practical advice: when a serious illness begins, contact the priest. Don't wait for the crisis. Regular Confession and Communion during a long illness provide far more spiritual support than a frantic bedside call in the final hours.

The Canon on the Departure of the Soul (Kanon na iskhod dushi)

When death is clearly imminent, the priest is called to recite this specific canon at the bedside. The Canon on the Departure of the Soul is a sequence of prayers that accompanies the soul as it separates from the body. It asks God to receive the departing soul with mercy, to assign the guardian angel to accompany it, and to grant peace rather than fear at the moment of transition.

If the dying person is experiencing prolonged suffering, there is a variation of this canon that specifically asks God to mercifully release the soul — an acknowledgment that extended agony is not God's design, and that praying for a peaceful end is not the same as praying for death.

This canon is read aloud, standing, in the presence of family if they are able to be there. The family is not required to do anything during the reading except be present and pray. It is one of the most intimate liturgical moments the Church offers.

What If the Priest Arrives Too Late?

If the person dies before the priest arrives, the priest can still perform the first Panikhida (memorial prayer service) at the place of death. The spiritual care of the soul does not end when the body stops breathing — Orthodox theology teaches that the soul remains near the body and near familiar places for the first days after death, and the prayers offered during this period are heard.

The family should not feel guilty if the timing doesn't work out perfectly. The Church's response to death is a 40-day process of prayer and liturgical support, not a single moment. What matters is that the prayers begin as soon as possible and continue through the memorial milestones.

For a complete timeline from illness through the 40th day memorial, the Russian Orthodox Funeral Guide covers each step in order — including what to say when you call the priest, what to prepare for a bedside visit, and how the pre-death sacraments connect to the post-death funeral rites.