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.
THE ORDER OF THE OFFICE FOR THE MAKING OF A PROTOPRESBYTER.
He that is to be appointed protopresbyter is conducted by a protodeacon, or by two deacons, to the right reverend Archpriest in the middle of the church, where the Archpriest standeth at the time of the introit with the gospel. And he inclineth himself to his girdle before the Archpriest thrice, and boweth his head. And the Archpriest, sitting, signeth him with the hand on his head crosswise thrice. And, rising, he layeth his hand upon his head. And the protodeacon having said, Let us pray to the Lord,
the Archpriest saith this prayer.
Master, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who hast bestowed priesthood on our race, and hast endued us with the grace of this gift and honour, and hast appointed us who are sufficiently pious to rule the priestly order, and the other subordinate ministers of thy mysteries; do thou thyself endue our brother, name, with thy grace, and adorn him with virtue to stand at the head of the presbyters of thy people, and make him worthy to be a good example to them that are with him; and be thou pleased that he may finish his life in piety and virtue unto a good old age; and, as the good God, have mercy upon us all. For thou art the giver of wisdom, and all creation singeth thee to ages of ages.