page_title: Christian laying on of hands
section_title: Pentecostalism
hierarchical_section_title: Christian laying on of hands / Pentecostalism
caption_attribution_description: From NARA, ARC Identifier: 541337 NARA's caption: Healing "en:laying on of hands" ceremony in the en:Pentecostal Church of God. Lejunior, en:Harlan County, Kentucky. , 09/15/1946 Item from Record Group 245: Records of the Solid Fuels Administration for War, 1937 - 1948 Photographer: Russell Lee
context_page_description: In Christianity, the laying on of hands is both a symbolic and formal method of invoking the Holy Spirit primarily during baptisms and confirmations, 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.
  In the New Testament the laying on of hands was associated with Christ healing the sick and after his ascension, the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Initially the Apostles laid hands on new believers as well as believers. In the early church, the practice continued and is still used in a wide variety of church ceremonies, such as during confirmation.
context_section_description: Pentecostal Christians practice the laying on of hands as part of prayer for divine healing and the anointing of the sick. While laying on of hands is not required for healing, Pentecostals believe that, in addition to its biblical origins, the act of touching is an encouragement to faith.
caption: Members of the Pentecostal Church of God of Lejunior, Kentucky, lay hands on a girl during prayer in 1946.
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