Book of Needs of the Holy Orthodox Church

by Russkaia pravoslavnaia tserkov

THE OFFICE THAT IS USED AT THE LAYING ON OF HANDS OF A DEACON.

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.