_Now if on the same day he is to receive the laying on of hands for the
subdiaconate, after the investing with the sticharion, the subdeacons
bring a sticharion-girdle to the Archpriest. And the Archpriest maketh
the sign of the cross upon the girdle, and he that is to receive the
laying on of hands kisseth the girdle, and the hand of the Archpriest,
and they gird him. And the Archpriest signeth him with the hand upon the
head thrice. After this the protodeacon saith_, Let us pray to the Lord.
_And the Archpriest, having laid his hand upon him, saith this prayer._
O Lord our God, who through one and the same holy Spirit, distributest
gifts to them whom thou hast chosen, bestowing various orders in thy
church, and appointing degrees of service therein for the ministration
of thy divine and spotless mysteries, who, in thine unspeakable
foreknowledge, dost also appoint this thy servant to be worthy to serve
in thy holy church; do thou thyself, O Master, preserve him blameless in
all things, and grant unto him to love the beauty of thy house, to stand
at the doors of thy holy temple, to kindle the lamp of the tabernacle
of thy glory; and plant him in thy holy church as a fruitful olive-tree
that beareth fruit of righteousness; and, at the time of thine advent,
declare thy servant perfected to receive the reward of them that have
been acceptable unto thee.
_Exclamation._
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.
Amen.
_And after the prayer the subdeacons give a ewer to him that is receiving
the laying on of hands, and lay a towel upon his shoulder; and the
Archpriest washeth his hands. And he that is receiving the laying on
of hands for subdeacon poureth water on the hands of the Archpriest.
After this he that is receiving the laying on of hands, and the other
subdeacons, kiss the Archpriest’s hand, and betake themselves from him to
the indicated place. And he that is receiving the laying on of hands for
subdeacon standeth, holding the ewer, and the wash-hand basin, together
with the towel, until the cherubic hymn. And he saith, Trisagion._ O
most holy Trinity.... Our Father.... Lord, have mercy. I believe in
one God.... Forgive, remit.... _and whatever else he is minded to say
secretly. And during the cherubic hymn he is conducted before the royal
doors to the Archpriest; and the Archpriest washeth his hands according
to rite, and saith the prayer. Then he signeth the water with his
hand crosswise thrice. And the Archpriest with this sanctified water
wetteth his eyes, ears, nostrils, and lips. And at the great introit he
walketh behind all the ministers. And when the Archpriest taketh up the
holy things, and all the ministers proceed into the altar, he that is
receiving the laying on of hands for subdeacon boweth to the Archpriest,
and beareth water to the right and left choirs, and to the people, and
they all splash themselves with this water. And they conduct him back
to the altar, and they pour the water that remaineth into the piscina.
And, being conducted, he remaineth before the royal doors, and standeth
in the indicated place according to rite. And when the Archpriest hath
said_, And may the mercies.... _after this exclamation he is conducted
into the altar by the subdeacons according to rite, and, having received
a blessing from the Archpriest, he standeth with the subdeacons._