Modern obstacles don’t stop ancient holy oil

Prepared in a massive silver cauldron, the mixture of herbs, flower extracts, spices, wine and pure olive oil is derived from an original batch mixed at the Armenian Church’s founding 1,707 years ago. It is replenished every seven years by pouring old into new, continuing a mysterious connection between distant generations.

The priests traditionally have traveled home with their portions in jars cradled in their arms, because muron is supposed to be handled only by ordained clergy.

That all changed late in September when ancient tradition met with a 21st-century obstacle put in place since the last trip for the holy oil: As a liquid, muron cannot be taken aboard commercial airliners, according to airport security rules.

“We were very worried — in the old days, we carried the muron in our hands,” said His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, which is based in Burbank, Calif. “I would never have given away that privilege, but we had no option.”

Derderian bundled up his six containers in layers of cloth and then packed them snugly into three suitcases. Airport baggage handlers took it from there.

“I was confident that nothing would happen to it,” he said. “You do your best, and then trust in God.”

Derderian’s containers arrived safely after a 20-hour flight.

A genial man with a black beard, Derderian declared mission accomplished Oct. 7 when priests from churches across Southern California gathered around a massive oak table in his office.

Their 7-ounce portions of the amber-hued oil were presented on a silver tray: 15 small glass jars with white screw-cap lids, each one marked with a label written in English and Armenian: “Holy Muron. September 28, 2008. Holy Etchmiadzin.”

After prayers and solemn hymns, the clergy, clad in black robes, stood and formed a line. Fist-sized silver crosses — some studded with precious stones — dangled from silver chains around their necks. They approached the table, in turn, with heads bowed and kissed the jars that Derderian placed in their hands.

A few minutes later, they were heading back to their churches, where the oil would be transferred into dove-shaped sterling silver containers symbolizing the Holy Spirit.

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