Book of Needs of the Holy Orthodox Church

by Russkaia pravoslavnaia tserkov

THE OFFICE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A READER AND SINGER IS PERFORMED ON THIS WISE.

He that is to be made a taper-bearer is brought by two subdeacons into the middle of the church, and he maketh three reverences. And, turning himself, he boweth thrice to the Archpriest; and, having been conducted to the Archpriest, he boweth his head, and the Archpriest signeth him crosswise with the hand upon his head thrice. And after this, placing his hand upon his head, he saith this prayer.

Lord, who with the light of thy wonders enlightenest all Creation, who knowest the intention of each before it is formed, and strengthenest them that desire to serve thee; do thou thyself adorn with thine unspotted and undefiled robes thy servant, name, who is minded to precede thy holy mysteries as a taper-bearer, that, being enlightened and meeting thee in the world to come, he may obtain an incorruptible crown of life, rejoicing with thine elect in everlasting blessedness.

Exclamation. For hallowed is thy name, and glorified is thy kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And be it noted that, if the liturgy be not celebrated, the Archpriest maketh the beginning, Blessed be our God.... and then is sung, O heavenly King.... Trisagion. O most holy Trinity.... Our Father.... For thine is the kingdom.... And the troparion of the day is said.

But if the liturgy be celebrated, O heavenly King.... and Trisagion and Our Father.... are not sung, and only these troparia are said.

O holy apostles, pray the merciful God that he may grant our souls remission of sins.

The grace of thy mouth, shining forth like fire, hath illuminated the universe, hath offered the world treasures of liberality, and hath shewed to us the height of humility. And as thou instructest by thy words, O father John Chrysostom, pray Christ, the Word of God, to save our souls.

Thy sound is gone forth into all the earth, which hath received thy word, whereby thou hast divinely taught, hast explained the nature of things that are, and brightened the customs of men, O royal divine, venerable father: pray thou Christ God to save our souls.

The shepherd’s reed of thy divinity hath overcome the trumpets of the orators; for as to him that seeketh the deep things of the spirit, so was the grace of language accorded thee. Then, father Gregory, pray Christ God to save our souls.

Glory. Both now.

Through the prayers, O Lord, of all the saints, and of the God-bearing one, grant thy peace to us, and have mercy upon us, as being alone compassionate.

Then the Archpriest sheareth his head crosswise, saying, In the name of the Father. A protodeacon and a reader, or a singer, say, Amen. Archpriest. And of the Son. Protodeacon. Amen. Archpriest. And of the Holy Ghost. Protodeacon. Amen.

Then the Archpriest putteth the short phelonion on him, and again thrice signeth him crosswise on his head with the hand, and layeth his hand upon him, and prayeth thus,

O Lord God almighty, elect this thy servant, and sanctify him, and grant unto him, in all wisdom and understanding, to practise the study and reading of thy divine words, preserving him in a blameless course of life.

Exclamation.

Through the mercy, and compassions, and love to man of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And after the prayer the Archpriest openeth the book of the apostles over the head of the reader. And the subdeacons conduct him from the Archpriest, and place him in the middle of the church, with his face towards the east, and give him the book of the apostles, and he readeth thus, The reading of the message of the holy apostle Paul to the Romans (or, to others). And he readeth the portion of the epistle that is appointed, from the beginning to the end, and turneth himself and boweth thrice to the Archpriest according to rite. And the subdeacons take off from him the phelonion, and conduct him to the Archpriest. And the Archpriest again signeth his head thrice with the hand. And they bring the sticharion to the Archpriest, and he signeth the sticharion with his hand over the cross. And he that hath been appointed, having signed himself with his hand, kisseth the cross upon the sticharion, and the hand of the Archpriest; and the subdeacons vest him with the sticharion. And the Archpriest addresseth him on this wise,

Child, the first degree of the priesthood is that of reader. Therefore it becometh thee to read every day in the divine scriptures, that they that hear, considering thee, may receive edification, and that thou, in nowise shaming thine election, mayest prepare thyself for a more advanced degree. For, living temperately, holily, and righteously, thou shalt gain the mercy of the man-loving God, and make thyself worthy of a higher ministry, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory to ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Archpriest saith on this wise,

Blessed be the Lord, lo, the servant of God, name, becometh reader of the most holy church, name, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

And the Archpriest giveth him a lamp, and he standeth before the Archpriest with the lamp in the indicated place.

And if there be several readers to receive the laying
on of hands they receive this together,
and the prayer is said in the
plural.