Book of Needs of the Holy Orthodox Church

by Russkaia pravoslavnaia tserkov

After this he that hath been appointed abbot
kisseth the Archpriest’s omophorion on the right
and left shoulder; and, being conducted, he rangeth
himself with the other abbots according to rite; and
they go into the altar through the royal
doors, and he acteth with the
ministers according
to rite.

THE OFFICE THAT IS USED AT THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ARCHIMANDRITE.

He that is to be appointed archimandrite is conducted by a protodeacon, or by two deacons, to the Archpriest in the middle of the church where the Archpriest standeth at the time of the introit with the gospel, if the Archpriest himself be celebrating the liturgy. But if not, they bring the epitrachelion, the maniples, and the omophorion to the Archpriest, and he vesteth himself standing in his place. And he that is to be appointed archimandrite is conducted to his place, and he inclineth himself to his girdle thrice before the Archpriest, and boweth his head. And the Archpriest, sitting, signeth him with the hand upon his head thrice. And if he that is to be appointed archimandrite be not an abbot, the Archpriest saith over him the prayers which are said over an abbot. But if he be already an abbot the prayers for an abbot are not said over the archimandrite, and the protodeacon only saith with a loud voice,

Bid, master.

And the Archpriest exclaimeth with a loud voice,

The grace of the all-holy Spirit, through our mediocrity, appointeth thee archimandrite of the honourable habitation of our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, or, of our most holy God-bearing Lady, whatever temple of her it may be, or, of Saint, name, to whom may be dedicated the temple.

Then the Archpriest, laying his hand on the head of him that is appointed, exclaimeth Axios, thrice.

And the singers sing, Axios, thrice.

And if, by the command of our Most Pious,
Autocratic Great Lord, THE EMPEROR
ALEXANDER ALEXANDROVITCH of
all Russia, and with the blessing of the Most Holy
Governing Synod, the mitre be given to the archimandrite,
then after the procession from the altar
with the gospel at the divine liturgy, the archimandrite
is conducted to the Archpriest. And the
Archpriest doth not say the prayer, but only blesseth
the archimandrite with the hand. And he kisseth
the Archpriest’s hand, and the mitre; and they
place the mitre on the archimandrite. And, being
conducted, he rangeth himself with the archimandrites
and abbots according to degree,
and they go into the altar through
the royal doors, and he acteth
with the ministers
according to
rite.