RITES IN THE UNITED STATES 219 



red and white string which he twisted at the beginning of the 

 baptism, and fastens it at the end with a small cross. Then 

 he gives two candles, one red and one green, to the godfather 

 and has the child brought up to the altar where Communion is 

 given to it by a small drop of the Sacred Blood, or, if it be 

 not at the time of Mass, by taking the Blessed Sacrament from 

 the Tabernacle and signing the mouth of the child with it in 

 the form of the cross, saying in either case : "The plenitude 

 of the Holy Ghost" ; if the candidate be an adult, full Com- 

 munion is administered, and there the confirmation is ended. 

 The formula of absolution in the Sacrament of Penance is : 

 "May the merciful God have mercy upon you and grant you 

 the pardon of all your sins, both confessed and forgotten ; and 

 I by virtue of my order of priesthood and in force of the power 

 granted by the Divine Command : Whosesoever sins you remit 

 on earth they are remitted unto them in heaven ; through that 

 same word I absolve you from all participation in sin, by 

 thought, word and deed, in the name of the Father, and of the 

 Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And I again restore you to the 

 sacraments of the Holy Church; whatsoever good you shall 

 do, shall be counted to you for merit and for glory in the life 

 to come. May the shedding of the blood of the Son of God, 

 which He shed upon the cross and which delivered human na- 

 ture from hell, deliver you from your sins. Amen." As a 

 rule Armenians are exhorted to make their confession and 

 communion on at least five days in the year : the so-called 

 Daghavork or feasts of Tabernacles, i. e., the Epiphany, Eas- 

 ter, Transfiguration, Assumption and Exaltation of the Holy 

 Cross. The first two festivals are obligatory, and, if an Ar- 

 menian neglects his duty, he incurs excommunication. The 

 Sacrament of Extreme Unction (or "Unction with Oil," as it 

 is called) is supposed to be administered by seven priests in the 

 ancient form, but practically it is performed by a single priest 

 on most occasions. The eyes, ears, nose, lips, hands, feet and 

 heart of the sick man are anointed, with this form : "I anoint 

 thine eyes with holy oil, so that whatever sin thou mayst have 

 committed through thy sight, thou mayst be saved therefrom 

 by the anointing of this oil, through the grace of our Lord 

 Jesus Christ," and with a similar reference to the other mem- 

 bers anointed. 



The Divine Liturgy or Mass is of course the chief rite 



