service files presbyter.md

ORDER FOR THE ORDINATION OF A PRESBYTER

After the completion if the Cherubikon, the one who is to be ordained Presbyter stands on the solea, two Deacons take the candidate on either side They bring him near the Holy Doors and bow him low before the Bishop, who is seated on his small throne in front of the Altar. The Archdeacon says: Give the order, Holy Master. Then they let him go and two Presbyters, the first and second in rank, come from the Sanctuary and take the one who is to be ordained Presbyter, who is standing on the Solea, and bring him into the Sanctuary, circling the Altar as they sing the following Troparia * : *

Holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and were crowned, intercede with the Lord to have mercy on our souls.

Tone 7.

Glory to you, Christ God, boast of Apostles, joy of Martyrs, whose preaching was the consubstantial Trinity.

Tone 5.

Isaias dance: the Virgin was with child and gave birth to a Son, Emmanuel, who is both God and man. Orient is his name, whom we magnify as we call the Virgin blessed.

Note that when they sing the troparion Holy Martyrs t he Bishop takes his seat in front of the Holy Table on a small throne, and when, as they circle the Holy Table, they come in front of the Bishop they make a metania, and the one to be ordained kisses the Bishop’s knee above the Omophorion .

O God, without beginning and without end, you are older than all creation, and have honoured with the title of ‘Presbyter’ those who have been found worthy of this rank to minister the word of your truth. Master of all things, be well pleased for this man, who, because of his unblemished way of life and unswerving faith, you have been well pleased to be appointed through me, to receive this great grace of the Holy Spirit. Show your servant to be perfect, by being well-pleasing to you in all things, and living in a manner worthy of this great honour of the Priesthood that has been given him by your providential power. Because yours is the might, and yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Bishop stands up and the one to be ordained approaches the Bishop and is signed three times on the head. Then the ordinand leans his forehead on the Holy Table and kneels on both knees. When the Deacon has exclaimed Let us attend , the Bishop, with his right hand placed on the head of the ordinand, declaims:

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Divine grace, which always heals what is infirm and completes what is lacking, ordains N. *,* the most devout Deacon, as Presbyter. Let us therefore pray for him, that the grace of the All-Holy Spirit may come upon him.

For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

And at once Lord, have mercy is chanted three times by those in the Sanctuary and by those outside. The Bishop again signs his head three times, and when the Deacon has said Let us pray to the Lord , the Bishop, with his hand on the head of the ordinand prays as follows in a low voice:

For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy Churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

After this Prayer the First Priest says in a quiet voice, such that those present can hear and respond, the following Diaconal Litany:

That our God who loves humankind will grant that his Priesthood may be without spot or blemish, let us pray to the Lord.

For our Archbishop N. , for his Priesthood, for help, continuance, peace, health, salvation and for the work of his hands, let us pray to the Lord.

For our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Family, her Government, and all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.

For the servant of God N. , who is now appointed Presbyter, and for his salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

For this city, for every city, town and village, and for the faithful who dwell in them, let us pray to the Lord.

While this is being said the Bishop, keeping his hand on the head of the candidate, prays as follows in a low voice:

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and constraint, let us pray to the Lord.

And after the Amen he stands him up and brings the back of  the Orarion of the newly ordained to the front over his right shoulder, saying: Axios! Then he vests him in the Phelonion in the same way, again proclaiming, Axios! And those in the Sanctuary, and the Singers chant the same.

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by your grace.

The newly-ordained kisses the Bishop and the Presbyters and then goes and takes his stand with the Presbyters, reading the Scroll.

Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

The Deacon stands in his usual place and says, Let us complete our prayer to the Lord.

Lord God, great in power and unsearchable in understanding, wonderful in counsel above all the children of humankind, fill with the gift of your Holy Spirit this man, whom you have been well-pleased to let enter the rank of Presbyter, that he may become worthy to stand without blemish before your Altar, to proclaim the Gospel of your Kingdom, to minister the word of your truth, to offer gifts and spiritual sacrifices, to renew your People through the washing of rebirth, so that, when he meets the second coming of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, your only-begotten Son, he may in your great goodness receive the reward of his good stewardship of his own order. For blessed and glorified is your all-honoured and majestic name, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

When the Holy Gifts have been perfected and the Bishop is about to say, So that those who partake , the newly ordained comes forward and the Bishop gives him the Holy Bread , saying to him,

Take this gage, and guard it until the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are going to be asked for it back by him.

The newly ordained takes and goes to the place where he was standing before, placing his hands on the Holy Table and saying to himself, Lord, have mercy , and, Have mercy on me, O God .

When the Bishop is about to say, The Holy Things for the holy , the newly ordained gives back the Holy Bread and is the first to receive Communion from the Bishop before all the rest. He also says the Prayer behind the Ambo.