THE OFFICE THAT IS USED AT THE LAYING ON OF HANDS OF A PRESBYTER.
After the conclusion of the cherubic hymn, he that is to be appointed presbyter is conducted by an archdeacon, or by one of the other deacons, through the royal gates unto the holy table before the Archpriest on the right hand side. And the Archpriest signeth him with the hand crosswise, and he is conducted round the throne thrice, as it is written in the diaconal laying on of hands, while all in the altar sing these troparia.
O holy martyrs, who valiantly contended and are crown’d; pray ye the Lord for mercy on out souls.
Once.
Glory to thee, Christ God, apostles’ boast and martyrs’ joy, whose preaching was the consubstantial Trinity.
Once.
Then, 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.
Once.
And he bendeth both knees, and placeth his palms crosswise on the holy table, and layeth his forehead between his hands on the holy table. The Archpriest placeth the end of the omophorion on the head of him that is receiving the laying on of hands, and blesseth him upon the head thrice. And the leading priest 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 deacon, to be presbyter: let us therefore pray for him, that the grace of the all-holy Spirit may come upon him.
And the priests within sing, Lord, have mercy, thrice from the right hand side. Then again thrice from the left hand side. Then in like manner also the singers without in the right and left choirs, Kyrie eleison, antiphonally thrice slowly, while the Archpriest readeth the prayer. The Archpriest again blesseth him thrice, having his hand lying upon the head of him that is receiving the laying on of hands. And the protodeacon saith, Let us pray to the Lord, in a low voice.
The Archpriest saith the prayer secretly.
O God, unbeginning and unending, who art older than every created thing, who honourest with the tide of presbyter them who are made worthy in this degree to minister sacredly the word of thy truth; do thou thyself, O Master of all, vouchsafe that this man, whom thou art well-pleased to lay hands upon by me, may receive, in a blameless conversation and in unswerving faith, this great grace of thy holy Spirit, and declare him thy perfect servant, acceptable unto thee in all things, and worthily exercising this great priestly honour vouchsafed unto him by thy foreknowing power.
Exclamation.
For thine is the might, and 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 priest readeth that which is of peace in a low voice.
In peace let us pray to the Lord. 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 presbyter, and for his salvation, let us pray to the Lord. That the man-loving God may bestow on him a spotless and blameless priesthood, 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.... Commemorating our most holy, most pure.... They answer, To thee, O Lord.
The Archpriest, having his hand lying on the head of him that is receiving the laying on of hands, prayeth thus,
O God, mighty in power, and unsearchable in understanding, wonderful in counsels above the sons of men; do thou thyself, O Lord, fill with the gift of thy holy Spirit this man, whom thou art well-pleased should attain unto the presbyterial degree, that he may be worthy to stand blamelessly at thine altar, to declare the gospel of thy kingdom, to minister sacredly the word of thy truth, to offer unto thee gifts and spiritual sacrifices, and to renew thy people by the laver of regeneration, that he, meeting thee at the second coming of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, thine only-begotten Son, may receive the reward of a good stewardship of his order, in the plentitude of thy grace.
Exclamation.
For blessed and glorified is thine all-revered and majestic name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
Then they raise him up, and bring the epitrachelion, and taking the orarion from him that hath received the laying on of hands, the Archpriest giveth him the epitrachelion, having blessed it, and he that hath received the laying on of hands kisseth the epitrachelion, and the Archpriest’s hand. And the Archpriest layeth it upon his neck, saying with a loud voice, Axios. And they sing in the altar thrice, Axios. And the singers without sing the same in both choirs. In like manner he giveth him also the girdle, and he kisseth it, and the Archpriest’s hand, and girdeth himself. And the Archpriest saith, Axios. And they sing in the altar and without in like manner. And they do the same with the phelonion, and with the sloujébnik. And the Archpriest saith with each, Axios. And they sing according to custom. And, having kissed the omophorion and the Archpriest’s hand, he that hath received the laying on of hands as priest goeth out and kisseth the archimandrites, and all the co-ministrants on the shoulder, and standeth with the priests.