What to do with the holy oil from the relics of holy saints, miraculous icons, or left over from the sacrament of unction that has fallen into disrepair?

What to do with the holy oil from the relics of holy saints, miraculous icons, or left over from the sacrament of unction that has fallen into disrepair?

Archpriest Andrei Ukhtomsky answers:

- In all cases of using oil, it is necessary to understand that it is the Lord who helps invisibly through visible objects. Why is oil used? Because it has the ability to heal bodily wounds and, by analogy with this, we believe that the Lord will soften our soul and help heal its wounds.

The Epistle of the Apostle James contains the following words: “ Is any of you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick one, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him ”(James 5: 14-15).

The consecrated oil has the grace of the Holy Spirit, whose condescension was sought in prayer from God directly or through His saints. Oil consecrated on relics or from miraculous icons can be used at home: add to food; smear crosswise the forehead during illness, or crosswise anoint sore spots. Oil consecrated during the Sacrament of Unction can also be added to food and smeared with it.

Consecrated oil (from the relics of various saints or mixed with cathedral oil) is also anointed, invoking the names of those saints at whose relics or whose icons this oil was consecrated.

As for the spoiled oil, since it is consecrated, it should not be poured into the latrine or into the sink of the common drain. Better under a tree on the street, or in a place where no one walks, so that it is not trampled underfoot. It can be poured into flowers. Oiled napkins, rags, fabrics are burned.