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