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Ordination

The Server or “Candle-bearer”

The Server or Candle-bearer is the first rank of liturgical ministry in the Church. They assist with the Divine Services both in the Altar and in the Sanctuary (where the congregation stand to pray). While historically one of their most important functions was the bearing and care of candles (in an age before electricity), lighting the way of the clergy so that they may be able to serve the various rites and celebrations, they do more than that. They also have care of the thurible and incense, assist in the Processions and entrances, etc. They preform a very valuable service helping the priest, deacon, and/or bishop with the celebration of the Divine Services.

The Office of Ordaining (Kheirothesia) Candle-bearers

He who is to be made a candle-bearer (acolyte or server) is led by the Sub-Deacon into the centre of the Church, before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy and there makes three reverences; and turning, salutes the Bishop thrice.

The Holy Laying-On of Hands and Ordination Prayer:

Then, drawing near to the Bishop, he bows his head and the Bishop signs him in the form of a cross on the head with his hand. Then, laying his hand upon the candidate¹s head, the Bishop says the following prayer: O Lord, who enlightenest all created beings with the light of thy marvels, and knowest the intent of every man before it is formed, and strengthenest those who are desirous of serving thee:

Do thou, the same Lord, array in thy fair and spotless vesture this thy servant who desireth to become a Candle-bearer before thy Holy Mysteries; that he may be illumined; and that attaining unto the world to come he may receive the incorruptible crown of life, and rejoice with thine elect in bliss everlasting.

For hallowed is thy Name, and glorified is thy Kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The Reader (or Cantor)

The Reader (sometimes also called the Cantor or the Psalmist) is a minor order of Clergy who leads the Faithful in the praying of the Psalms and propers of the various Divine Services.

Being a minor order (like Servers and Subdeacons), they are ordained by “kheirothesia”(sometimes referred to as "Setting Apart") as opposed to “kheirotonia”, which is the ordination for major orders.

The Reader’s ministry include chanting the Hours, the Kathisma psalms at Matins, the Apostle Readings at Divine Liturgy.

They must be familiar with the various services books, such as the Triod, the Pentecostar, the Menai, the Book of Hours, etc. They will lead the singing of the various Tropars, Kondaks, Irmoi, etc. using and switching between the various sets of 8 Tones such as the Resurrectional, the OktoIkos, the Bulgarian, the Kanon, etc.

While at Ordination, they are vested with the Small Phelon and then a Stikhar, usually they just wear a pidriasnyk (what Protestants and others call a "cassock") in Church.

The Office of Ordaining (Kheirothesia) Readers

The following Hymns shall be read:

O holy Apostles, entreat the merciful God that he will grant our souls remission of their sins.

The grace of thy lips, shining forth like a beacon-fire, hath illuminated the universe, and hath bestowed upon the world the treasure of non-avariciousness, and hath shown us the height of humility. But as thou instructest us with thy words, O Father John Chrysostom, so also intercede thou with Christ-God, the Word, that our souls may be saved.

Thy voice is gone out into all the world, in that it hath received thy word, wherewith thou hast taught in manner well-pleasing unto God, hast expounded the nature of existing things, and hast adorned the customs of mankind.

O Royal Priesthood, Sainted Father, pray thou unto Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.

The shepherd¹s reed of thy divine theology hath confounded the trumpets of the rhetoricians, the same being bestowed upon thee as upon one who hath searched out the deep things of the spirit, and grace of proclamation. Wherefore, O Father Gregory, entreat thou Christ-God that our souls may be saved.

Glory...Both now...

Through the prayers of all the Saints, and of the Theotokos, O Lord, grant us thy peace, and have mercy upon us: for thou only art bountiful.

The Tonsuring

Then the Bishop shears the candidate¹s head in the form of a cross, saying: In the Name of the Father.

Then the Proto-Deacon and the Reader shall say: Amen.

Bishop: And of the Son.

Proto-Deacon. Amen.

Bishop: And of the Holy Spirit.

Proto-Deacon: Amen.

The Vesting in the Short Phelon

Then the Bishop puts upon him the short phelon and again makes thrice with his hand the sign of the cross upon his head and recites this prayer:

O Lord God Almighty, elect this thy servant and sanctify him and enable him with all wisdom and understanding, to exercise the study and reading of thy divine words, preserving him in blameless ness of life.

Through the mercies and bounties and love towards manking of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom also thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

The Presentation of the Apostle Book and Vesting in the Stikhar

After the prayer, the Bishop opens the book of the Apostles upon the head of the Reader. And the Sub-Deacons lead him from the Bishop, and place him in the middle of the Church, with his face to the east; and the Apostle Book (what Protestants and others call the "Epistle Book") is given to him and he reads a bit of wherever the book opens, then bows to the Bishop thrice. The Sub-Deacons divest him of the short chasuble.

Then the Stihar is brought to the Bishop and he signs it with his hand over the cross. And he who has been "set apart" (or ordained), having signed himself with the cross, kisses the cross upon the tunic, and the hand of the Bishop: And the Sub-Deacons vest him in the tunic; and the Bishop exhorts him in this way:

My son, the first degree in the Priesthood is that of Reader. It behooveth you therefore, to peruse the divine Scriptures daily, to the end that the hearers, regarding you may receive edification; that you in nowise shaming your election, mayest prepare thyself for a higher degree. For by a chaste, holy and upright life thou shalt gain the favour of the God of loving-kindness, and shalt render thyself worthy of a greater ministry, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom be glory unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then shall the Bishop say:

Blessed is the Lord. Lo, the servant of God, N., is become a Reader of the most holy Church of N., in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Then the Bishop gives him a shrine-lamp and he stands before the Bishop with the lamp, in the appointed place.

"Axios! Axios! Axios!"

to The Reader Ilya (Romanovitch Galadza) on his ordination (kheirothesia) to the Holy Order of Reader.

May God grant him a Ministry without blemish and preserve him unto health and salvation among us for Many Happy and Blessed Years!

Ukrainian version
Українська версія

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