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.
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.