The Form and Manner of Ordaining a Priest

Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most^essed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God. v <•

Choir To thee, O Lord. ■ *** ‘’””*” “‘’

Exclamation:

Bishop. For blessed and magnified is thine all-holy and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

Then they raise up the Candidate, and bring the Priests stole ; and taking the Deacon* s stole from him that hath received the Laying-on of Hands, the Bishop endueth him with the priestly stole, after he hath blessed it ; and he that receiveth it kisseth it, and the hand of the Bishop. And the Bishop layeth it about his neck, saying, loudly :

Axios! (Worthy!)

And they within the Sanctuary sing the same ;

Axios. {Thrice,)

And the Singers without, in both Choirs, sing also ;

Axios. {Thrice,)

The Bishop then, in like manner, endueth him with the zone, and he kisseth it, and the hand of the Bishop, andgirdeth himself And the Bishop saith :

Axios. (8)

And they within the Sanctuary and they without do the same.

Thus they do also with the chasuble : and with the Service-Book, which is given to him as his guide in the holy ministry ; for he saith not from memory the Prayers, but reatteth them.

Then they sing as usual, and the Priest who hath received the Laying-on of Hands goeth forth, after he hath kissed the Bishop* s stole and his hand, and kisseth the Archimandrites, and all his fellow-clergy, on the shoulder ; and taketh his place among the Priests.

\ ARCHPRIEST

He who is to be adz&n&d^othe rank of^P’chpriest is conducted by a Proto-Deacon, or by two Deacons^TS (&e Rivjit Reverend Bishop, in the middle of the Churchy at the time when tht~T.itile Entrance with the book of the Holy Gospels is made. He boweth before the Bishop, even to the girdle, thrice, and bendeth his head. And the Bishop, as he sitteth,signeth him, thrice, upon the head, in cross form, with his hand. Then, rising, he layeth his hand upon the Priesfs head. And after the Proto- Deacon hath said:

Let us pray to the Lord :

The Bishop saith the following Prayer :

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who hast bestowed the priesthood upon our race, and hast endued us with the grace of this gift and honour, and hast appointed us who are duly devout to exercise command over the members of the Priesthood, and the other servitors in lesser degree of thy Mysteries: Endue thou now, also, with thy grace, our brother N., and adorn him with integrity ; that he may stand at the head of the Priests of thy people. And enable him to set a good example to those who are with him ; and graciously grant that he may attain, in piety and veneration, unto a good old age ; and have mercy upon us all, inasmuch as thou art a good God. For thou art the bestower of wisdom ; and unto thee doth all creation sing praises unto ages of ages.

Then the Bishop signeth him upon the head with the sign of the cross, saying:

Blessed is God. Lo, the servant of God, N., is made an Archpriest of God’s holy Church, N. : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Then, laying his hand upon the Priesfs head, the Bishop exclaimeth :

Axios! (Thrice.)*

Then they place the Archpriest with the other clergy, according to their rank, and enter the Sanctuary through the Holy Door, and minister with the Clergy.

* Appendix B, VIII (8).