_After the Archpriest hath said,_
And may the mercies of the great God.... _the subdeacons bring forward
the throne, and place it before the holy table, but somewhat on the left
side, so that they may not turn their backs towards the holy things.
And the Archpriest seateth himself thereupon, and they take him that is
to receive the laying on of hands from the middle of the church, two
subdeacons holding him between them, each of them laying one hand upon
his neck, and with the other hand holding him by the hands, and they bow
him down as lowly as possible. And a deacon in the altar saith_, Bid.
_Then, having advanced somewhat, they bow him down as before. And another
deacon saith_, Bid ye. _Then they come nigh unto the holy gates of the
altar, and bow him down before the Archpriest._
_And the protodeacon saith,_
Bid, right reverend master.
_And the subdeacons leave him that is to receive the laying on of hands
at the royal gates, and two receive him, a protodeacon and a deacon, one
by the right and the other by the left hand, and he boweth himself to the
Archpriest. And the Archpriest signeth him with the hand crosswise, and
they conduct him round the holy table, they that lead him and the others
singing,_
O holy martyrs, who valiantly contended, and are crown’d; pray ye the
Lord for mercy on our souls.
_Then they that are without sing the same once. And he that is receiving
the laying on of hands kisseth the four corners of the holy table, and
the hand of the Archpriest, and his knee. Then they conduct him round
again, singing,_
Glory to thee, Christ God, apostles’ boast, and martyrs’ joy, whose
preaching was the consubstantial Trinity.
_And the choir without singeth the same once. And he that is receiving
the laying on of hands again kisseth the holy table in like manner as
before, and the Archpriest’s epigonation, and his hand._
_Then again they conduct him round, singing,_
Rejoice, O Esaias, the virgin is with child, and bringeth forth a son,
Emmanuel, God and man: the orient is his name, whom magnifying, we call
the virgin blessed.
_And they make the rite, as before written. And they sing the same
without. Then the Archpriest riseth, and they remove the throne, and he
that is receiving the laying on of hands goeth to the right side of the
Archpriest, and boweth himself before the holy table thrice, saying_, O
God, cleanse me, a sinner. _And, bending the right knee, he placeth his
palms crosswise on the holy table, and layeth also his forehead between
his hands on the holy table. The Archpriest placeth the end of the
omophorion on the head of him that it receiving the laying on of hands,
and blesseth him upon the head thrice. And the protodeacon or the deacon
having said_, Let us attend, _the Archpriest, holding his hand upon his
head, readeth aloud in the hearing of all them that stand in the altar,_
The divine grace, which always remedieth that which is feeble, and
supplieth that which is lacking, layeth hands upon, _name_, the most
pious subdeacon to be deacon: let us therefore pray for him, that the
grace of the all-holy Spirit may come upon him.
_And the priests within sing, from the right hand side_, Lord, have
mercy, _thrice. Then again, from the left hand side, the same thrice.
And the singers without, in the right and left choirs_, Kyrie eleison,
_antiphonally thrice slowly, while the Archpriest readeth the prayer.
Then the Archpriest blesseth him upon the head thrice, holding his hand
upon the head of him that is receiving the laying on of hands. The
protodeacon saith_, Let us pray to the Lord, _in a low voice._
_And the Archpriest saith the prayer secretly._
O Lord our God, who, by thy foreknowledge sendest the gift of thy holy
Spirit on them that are destined, by thine unsearchable might, to be
ministers, and to serve at thy spotless mysteries; do thou thyself, O
Master, preserve in every virtue this man whom thou art well-pleased to
lay hands upon by me for the ministry of the diaconate, he holding the
mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Give unto him the grace which
thou gavest to thy protomartyr Stephen, whom thou didst first call to the
work of thy ministry; and make him worthy to use, as may be acceptable
unto thee, the degree which, by thy goodness, is given unto him (for they
that minister well prepare for themselves a good degree); and do thou
declare him thy perfect servant.
_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 the protodeacon readeth that which is of peace in a low voice._ In
peace let us pray to the Lord. _And they answer to each petition_, Lord
have mercy, _once_. For the peace that is from above.... For the peace
of the whole world.... For our archpriest, _name_, for his priesthood,
assistance, continuance, peace, health, salvation, and for the work of
his hands, let us pray to the Lord. For the servant of God, _name_, now
receiving the laying on of hands for deacon, and for his salvation, let
us pray to the Lord. That the man-loving God may bestow on him a spotless
and blameless diaconate, let us pray to the Lord. For our Most Pious,
Autocratic Great Lord, THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER ALEXANDROVITCH of all
Russia, and for all HIS palace and army, let us pray to the Lord. For
this city.... For our deliverance.... Help us, save us, have mercy on
us.... Commemorating our most holy, most pure.... _They answer_, To thee,
O Lord.
_And the Archpriest, holding his hand on the
head of him that is receiving the laying on of hands,
saith the second prayer._
O God our Saviour, who, by thine incorruptible voice, didst appoint
the law of the diaconate unto thine apostles, and didst declare the
protomartyr Stephen of such rank, and proclaim him the first to fulfil
the work of a deacon, as it is written in thy holy gospel, Whosoever
desireth to be the first among you, let him be your minister; do thou,
O Master of all, fill this thy servant, whom thou hast made worthy to
enter on the ministry of a deacon, with all faith, and love, and power,
and sanctification, through the visitation of thy holy and life-creating
Spirit (for it is not by the imposition of my hands, but by the presence
of thy compassions, that grace is given unto them that are worthy of
thee), that he, being without any sin, may stand blameless before thee in
the fearful day of thy judgment, and may receive the unfailing reward of
thy promise.
_Exclamation._ For thou art our God, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages
of ages. Amen.
_Then they raise him up, and loosen his girding. And the Archpriest,
taking the orarion, layeth it upon his left shoulder saying with a loud
voice,_ Axios. _And they sing in the altar thrice_, Axios. _And in like
manner without by both choirs. Then the maniples are given him, and the
Archpriest saith_, Axios. _And they sing the same in the altar thrice,
and in like manner without. Then the fan is given him, and the Archpriest
saith_, Axios. _And they sing in the altar and without according to
custom. And he kisseth the Archpriest on the shoulder, and placeth
himself by the altar, and fanneth the holy things._
THE OFFICE THAT IS USED AT THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ARCHDEACON AND A
PROTODEACON.
_He that is to be appointed an archdeacon is led by a protodeacon and a
deacon unto the right reverend Archpriest in the middle of the church,
where the Archpriest is standing at the time of the introit with the
gospel; and he inclineth himself to his girdle before the Archpriest
thrice, and boweth his head. And the Archpriest, sitting, signeth him
with the hand on his head crosswise, thrice; and, rising, he layeth his
hand upon his head. And the deacon having said_, Let us pray to the Lord,
_the Archpriest saith this prayer._
Master, Lord our God, who, by thine unspeakable providence, hast given to
our race archdeaconship, that they that are endued therewith may command
and serve, with the subordinate ministers at thy divine mysteries; do
thou thyself endue with this grace of archdeaconship thy present servant,
_name_, and adorn him with thy virtue to stand at the head of the deacons
of thy people, and to be a good example to them that are under him. And
make him to attain unto a ripe old age to glorify thy majestic name, of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to
ages of ages. Amen.
_Then the Archpriest signeth his head crosswise, saying_, Blessed be the
Lord, lo, the servant of God, _name_, is archdeacon (or protodeacon) in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
_And the Archpriest, laying his hand upon his head, exclaimeth_, Axios,
_thrice. And the singers sing_, Axios, _thrice. And they enter the altar
according to rite._