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Hierarchical Liturgy 101
(A Simple Version)
Preliminary notes:
Congratulations! By now, I'm sure you've mastered the Hierarchical Liturgy served according to the "Remedial" rubrics. And by "mastered", I mean you served the hierarchical liturgy and it wasn't a TOTAL disaster (emphasis on "total") -- "Partial" disasters are within acceptable parametres) .
Mistakes will always be made - that's normal. "Offer it up!" But, as long as Bishop doesn't stalk out in a huff part way through, you're doin' fine!.
And as long as we prayer with the sincerity of our hearts, don't get hung up on the petits faux pas, enjoy the Liturgy, are filled with Divine Love, and are open to God's mercy - we have given glory to God!
This set of Rubrics presume that you have 2 deacons, a handful of Servers who have done the remedial Services
a couple of times, and a number of concelebrants (who've shown up not just for the free food 
).
As I was saying, after a couple of times, and if you get a deacon or 2 with some familiarity with the Service (or who's read over these rubrics even), you're more than ready for these "Simple" Rubrics.
Liturgical Tip:
Whenever anyone gives anything to or takes anything from Bishop, it is customary to kiss the hand of the Bishop. (The best way to co-ordinate this is to offer the object to the Bishop but don't let it go until one has already kissed the Bishop's hand, then let go.)
Liturgical Tip:
Whenever anyone gives anything to or takes anything from the Bishop, it is customary to kiss the hand of the Bishop. (The best way to co-ordinate this is to offer the object to the Bishop but when the Bishop grabs it, don't let it go until one has kissed the Bishop's hand, then let go.)
Liturgical Tip:
When Bishop blesses with Trikeri & Dikeri, give him the Trikeri for his right hand and Dikeri for his left. This means the Server with the Trikeri stands generally on the south side of the Church and the Dikeri guy is on the north.
Liturgical Tip:
–after every Trikeri/Dikeri blessing, Singers always sing: Many Years (Eis Polla...)
- This happens about 4x:
- after Vesting,
- at the Little Entrance,
- after the Gospel,
- after the Great Entrance
Liturgical Tip:
- if you have "orletsy" (the Eagle Rugs of the Bishop) and not enough Servers to make them appear & disappear at the proper time, Don't Panic! Just put them down ahead of time & leave them there.
- Place 1 at the Kathedra,
- 1 at the Holy Table,
- 1 at the High Place & leave them.
- Put one (folded) beside the Proskomidinyk (and unfold it just at the end of the Triple Ektene). - Give 1 to the Candlebearer & the Staffbearer (to be put down when Bishop is on the Ambo)
Liturgical Tip:
- concelebrants should be line up in order of rank. The most senior (by ordination) closest to the Bishop. The Parish Priest is generally always the Protos (liturgically senior in his own parish). At Hierarchical Liturgies, the order of Procession is usual reverse of the normal. Normally junior-most ordained go first. At Hierarchicals senior-most go first (that way, they end up nearest the Bishop - so it makes sense, eh?)
The Cast:
- ideally, there should be 2 deacons.
- ideally there should be at least 7 Servers:
- 2 for the Trikeri & Dikeri;
- 1 to hold Bishop's Staff, easy job, just stand on the Solea in front of the Pantokrator icon;
- 1 to hold the Candle, also easy job, just stand on the Solea in front of the Theotokos icon;
- 1 to hold the Arkhieratikon (Book) for Bishop to read the Service from;
- and 2 for generally fetching the carrying, do the ripidia, etc., etc.
- the Junior most presbyter:
- offers Bishop Hand Cross (at beginning) & takes it from him after blessing of clergy
- stays in the altar & performing the Proskomidia - during the Enarxis
- He also is the one sent out to do the Ambo Prayer at the end.
- the 2d Senior presbyter gives the deacon the Gospel Book at the Gospel Procession.
Before Liturgy
Greeting the Bishop at the back of the Church
Clergy process to the back to welcome the Bishop :
The deacons should already be vested when they go to
meet the Bishop. The presbyters should come to greet the Bishop not yet vested. They should be wearing
Pidriasnyk, Riassa, and Kamilavka/Klobuk.
The presbyters line up in 2 rows, facing inward towards each other, and in order of rank (most senior closest to the Bishop {senior most to the Bishop's right, 2d to the Bishop's left, 3d on the Bishop's right and behind the senior most, 4th behind the 2d, etc.).
Bishop is greeted with Bread and Salt by designated representatives of the Community.
Bishop is vested with Mantiya and Pastoral Staff, handing off his Episcopal cane to a Server.
Subdeacon puts down the orlets and Bishop steps on to it.
Then the junior most presbyter presents the Bishop with the Church handcross on a cloth covered tray.
The Presbyters come up individually, in order of rank, and received the Bishop's blessing, kissing the Hand Cross & Bishop's hand after which they return to their places in line.
When the junior most presbyter receives his blessing and venerates the Hand Cross, the Bishop returns the Hand Cross to the tray.
The clergy turn east and make a Reverence toward
the High Place, turn west and bow toward the Bishop.
First Deacon proclaims: "May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the good of Jerusalem in your day!"
The Bishop leads the clergy to the Iconostas for the Prayers before the Iconostas.
As clergy "fish tail" following the bishop up to the front in order of rank (senior most first), Singers: "From
the rising to the setting of the sun, is the name of the Lord to be praised. Blessed be the name of the
Lord, from henceforth and forevermore." and then "It is truly right to bless you...”
Prayers before the Iconostas:
Concelebrants line up facing east, in 2 rows, in order of rank (senior most closest to the Bishop), lined up in front of the Pantokrator or Theotokos icons
After the Prayers, the Server gives the Bishop his Staff, who blesses the Faithful
Singers: “Ton dhespotin”
Bishop leads clergy back to the Kathedra, who line up in the usual 2 rows according to rank.
Bishop blesses the priests collectively. They bow and proceed into the Altar to vest.
Vesting the Bishop
The 1st deacon, standing on the ambo, incensing the Bishop, chants the vesting prayers for the Bishop, while the Subdeacons or Servers or Faithful vest the Bishop.
- Bishop's vestments should be laid out on a tray or small table
- placed in the order in which he will put them on.
- buttons should un UNfastened.
The cross (stitched on the vestment) should be place facing up so that he can easily venerated it- vestments should be "facing" the Bishop, i.e. in the "direction" he can easily put them on after vesting Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.
- Bishop blesses with the Trikeri/Dikeri in the 4 Directions
- Singers: Many Years (Mnohaya Lita) after every Blessing
Servers (3) come to the Kathedra to help the Bishop wash his hands:
- One with a long towel or "rushnyk" draped over his neck & down the front & holding Ewer & Basin
- 1st Server pours water over Bishop hands into the basin
- the other 2 lift the towel over the head of 1st Server & help Bishop dry his hands
after the drying, they replace the towel/rushnyk over the head & on the neck of the 1st.
- The Concelebrants, once vested, process back to the Kathedra.
- They process in 2 rows in order of rank & via the Deacon Doors.
- When they get back to their places:
- they make a Reverence eastward,
- bow to the Bishop, and
- bow across to each other.
Proskomidia (Part I)
- The junior presbyter, once vested, stays in the Altar
- there he serves the Proskomidia assisted by a junior deacon if available.
- He stops after the 9 Particles on the south side of the Lamb (Bishop will do the rest later).
During Liturgy
ENARXIS
- Bishop blesses the Parish Priest & 1st Deacon to begin Liturgy
- Parish Priest goes into Altar via Deacon Door, opens Holy Doors, to begin Liturgy
- 1st Deacon intones: "Master, give the Blessing"
- Parish Priest: "Blessed be the Kingdom..."
- Bishop sends the Priests (individually, in order of rank) into the Altar to take the Vos-hlas. (E.g.: Senior does “Blessed be the Kingdom”, 2d Presbyter, “Vos-hlas of Great Litany (properly this should be done by the 1st Priest, but in our Churches there is a custom of including another priest in the Enarxis, 3d Presbyter, “Vos-hlas of 1st Little Litany, 3d Presbyter, “Vos-hlas of 2d Little Litany “For You are a good and loving God”).
At the “Only Begotten Son”, Bishop blesses (collectively) all the remainder concelebrants to enter the Altar to prepare for the Little Entrance.
- after which the Servers line up below the Ambo, facing west, and at the 3d Vos-hlas, bow to the Bishop (for his blessing) and enter the Altar and line up for the Little Entrance.
LITTLE ENTRANCE
Clergy process out to the Kathedra (in reverse order, i.e. Senior Priest 1st {& end up closes to the Bishop}),
Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.
Server present Bishop the Arkhieratikon
Deacon: “Wisdom”& turns toward Bishop
Clergy (could be lower clergy if they would do a better
job than the concelebrants) sing: "Come Let us
Worship & fall down before Christ" [full stop, no further!!!] and wait for Bishop's blessing before
continuing with the 2d half...
Bishop blesses with Trikeri/Dikeri & says Prayers of Hours (from the Arkhieratikon)
Clergy (higher & lower) continue with the rest: “O Son of God...”
The 1st Deacon with Gospel leads Bishop into the Altar with concelebrants following.
Singers: “O Son of God...”(the entire antiphon 2x)
1st deacon receives Trikeri from Bishop & leads Bishop holding the Dikeri to do the Incensation
Singers: “Eis Polla Eti Dhespota”(There is a special melody you can use, Click here for Sample )
Liturgy of the Word:
At the Trisagion, Singers stop at the 2d Holy God (Svyatyj Bozhe).
The 3d Holy God, is sung by in Greek by the Bishop & Clergy alone
During Apostle Reading, priests greet the Bishop: kissing his hand, shoulder, & shield Gospel Procession:
In the Gospel Procession:
- the 2d deacon carries Bishop’s omophor
- then the 1st deacon with the Gospel
- the 2d deacon carries the omophor out through the Holy Doors down & around the Kathedra and immediately back into the Altar via the Holy Doors, while the 1st deacon proceeds as usual with the Gospel (flanked by subdeacons with ripidia).
- after the Gospel, Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.
- Bishop blesses with Trikeri/Dikeri
Singers: Many Years (Eis Polla...)
GREAT ENTRANCE
–Bishop comes to the Holy Doors to wash his hands (cf. Kathedra hand washing, supra
- Servers (3) exit Altar via North Deacon Door & come to Holy Doors
- Bishop washes his hands.
- Bishop goes to the Proskomidinyk with 1st Deacon
- Bishop completes Proskomidia
- clergy (major and minor) kiss Bishop shoulder & give him their names to be commemorated
The Great Entrance Procession (it goes like this - if you have enough servers...)
- 2d Deacon carries Arkhieratikon - with Bishop’s Omophor & Mitra on it
- Candlebearer
- Staffbearer
- Trikeri Server
- who will ultimately go up on the Solea & stand just south of the Pantokrator icon
- Dikeri Server
- who will ultimately go up on the Solea & stand just north of the Theotokos icon
- Ripidia Servers
- who will ultimately go up on the Solea & stand before the Pantokrator & Theotokos icon
- etc.
- the other Servers (with Cross, candles, whatever)
line up between the Kathedra & the Ambo - facing east. They stay there until they are blessed by the
Bishop with the Trikeri/Dikeri. Then they re-enter the Altar.
- after the Servers, then any other junior deacons left, they process & enter the Altar immediately
- the 1st deacon with Diskos
- then the Concelebrants (in reverse order [i.e. the Senior first with the Potir] (concelebrants line up in order, in 2 rows below solea, lined up with Christ or Theotokos icons respectively). Here the concelebrants Face EAST (not inward) - just like during the Iconostas Prayers.
The Great Entrance Commemorations:
- Bishop incensing while Gifts brought.
- 1st deacon gives Diskos to Bishop & immediately enters Altar via Holy Doors
- Senior Priest commemorates the Bishop; & gives him the Potir, and steps back to his place in line.
- Bishop makes the Commemorations - praying for the entire Church.
- Presbyters then enter the Altar via the Holy Doors.
- right after the Presbyters enter, the 2 Servers Trikeri & Dikeri switch sides (...since Bishop will now be facing west to bless with the Trikeri/Dikeri)
–Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.
- then Bishop bless with Trikeri/Dikeri,
- Singers: Many Years (Eis Polla)
–Servers take the Trikeri/Dikeri from Bishop & re-enter Altar. They go back to their usual sides.
Creed:
- during the Creed, priests wave the Aer over the Bishop’s head at the Holy Table
- the Servers carrying Trikeri & Dikeri exit & stand on Solea
- the Servers with Candle & Bishop’s Staff go to the foot of the Ambo facing east (They do this whenever they receive the Bishop’s blessings)
Anaphora
- at “Mercy of peace”, Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.
- instead of “Among the first...”, The Pastor commemorates the Bishop
- the Bishop will commemorate the other hierarchs with whom he is in Communion),
- then the 1st deacon will commemorate the Bishop with “and for our God loving Bishop (Name) who offers these Holy gifts to the Lord our God”
- as the 1st deacon is commemorating the Bishop, he goes from the Holy Table to the High Place, makes a Reverence, and returns to the Bishop for a blessing. (Historical note: This is the remnant of the Deacon’s commemoration of the living)
- at “One is Holy”, the Deacon, Closes Holy Doors & a Server closes the Curtain,
- then the Candlebearer (on the Solea before the Theotokos icon ) puts it in front of Holy Doors
- the Ambo Prayer is made by the most junior Priest
- Bishop does: “Save Your People...”then Priest continues with rest of Ambo Prayer
DISMISSAL
- the deacon or parish priest proclaims the Polychronion
- then the clergy exit altar & together with the Faithful venerate the Festal icon & receive Antidoron and/or Myrovannya.
After Liturgy:
--clergy re-enter the Altar
- the Holy Doors & Curtain are closed
- Servers help unvest Bishop at the Holy Table & vest him with mantiya & klobuk & panagia
- the Server with the Bishop's Staff exits Altar & stands on Solea before Christ icon
- when Bishop is ready, open Holy Doors & Curtain
- Bishop exits Altar
- Close Holy Doors
- Bishop takes Staff, turns east, makes 3 Reverences, turns west & blesses the Faithful
- Singers: Many Years (Eis Polla)
- Bishop goes to the Kathedra & blesses the Servers
- Bishop exits the Church, at the Church Doors, Servers unvest Bishop of his mantiya
- Servers returns the mantiya to Altar & closes Curtain.
No Sweat, eh?
After a couple of times, you could do it in your sleep!
Glory to God!
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