The Form and Manner of Ordaining

PRIEST*

After the Cherubimic Hymn hath been finished (see page 98), he who is to be ordained Priest is led by an Archdeacon, or another Deacon, in the same manner, and after the same exclamations of Command and Command, as at the ordination of a Deacon, through the Holy Door, to the Holy Attar, before the Bishop, at the right hand side thereof The Bishop signeth him with his hand, in the form of a cross ; and he is led thrice round the A liar, as is described in the Office for making a Deacon, while all within the Sanctuary sing the following Hymns :

O holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and have received your crowns : Entreat ye the Lord that our souls may be saved.

Glory to thee, Q Christ our God, the Apostles’ boast, the Martyrs’ joy, whose preaching was the consubstantial Trinity.

Rejoice, O Isaiah ! A Virgin is with child, and shall bear a Son, Emmanuel, both God and man : and Orient is his name ; whom magnifying we call the Virgin blessed.

Then he who is to be ordained bendeth both knees, and piaceth his palms crosswise upon the Holy Altar, and the- Bishop layeth the end of his stole upon the head of him who is to receive the Laying-on of Hands, and blesseth him, thrice, upon the head. And when the principal Priest hath said;

Let us attend :

The Bishop, laying his hand upon his head, pronounceth, aloud, in the hearing of all those who stand in the Church :

The grace divine, which always healeth that which is infirm, and completeth (1) that which is wanting, elevateth through the laying-on of hands, N., the most devout Deacon, to be a Priest. Wherefore, let us pray for him, that the grace of the all-holy Spirit may come upon him.

Then the Proto-Deacon saith in a low voice ;

Let us pray to the Lord.

And the Priests within the Sanctuary sing; Lord, have mercy, thrice on the right side, and again thrice on the left side.

And the Singers without, in the right and left Choirs, sing; Kyrie el *ison (thrice, slowly), while the Bishop reciteth the Prayer*

And the Bishop reciteth, secretly, the following Prayer :

O God, who hast no beginning and no ending ; who art older than every created thing ; who crownest with the name of Presbyter those whom thou deemest worthy to serve the word of thy truth in the divine ministry of this degree : Do thou, the same Lord of all men, deign to preserve in pureness of life and in unswerv* Appendix B, VIII (10).

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ing faith this man also, upon whom, through me, thou hast graciously been pleased to lay hands. Be favourably pleased to grant unto him the great grace of thy Holy Spirit, and make him wholly thy servant, in all things acceptable unto thee, and worthily exercising the great honours of the priesthood which thou hast conferred upon him by thy prescient power.

Exclamation,

For thine is the majesty, and thine are the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

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And the Proto-Deacon saith, in a low voice ;

Let us pray to the Lord.

Then the Priest, in a low voice, reciteth the Litany of Peace.

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

For the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of our souls : ft

For the peace of the whole world ; for the welfare of God’s holy Churches, and for the union of them all : ft

For our Bishop, N. of N., his priesthood, succour, maintenance, peace, health and salvation ; and for the works of his hands : ft

* For the servant of God, N., who now hath received the Laying-on of Hands to the Priesthood, and for his salvation : ft

That the God who loveth mankind will vouchsafe unto him a pure and blameless ministry: ft

For our most God-fearing Sovereign Lord, N. : ft

For this city ; and for every city and land ; and for those who with faith dwell therein : ft

And the Bishop, blessing, thrice, him who is receiving Ordination, keepeth his hand on the Candidate’s head, and prayeth, secretly :

O God great in might and inscrutable in wisdom, marvellous in counsel above the sons of men : Do thou, the same Lord, fill with the gift of thy Holy Spirit this man whom it hath pleased thee to advance to the degree of Priest; that he may be worthy to stand in innocency before thine Altar; to proclaim the Gospel of thy kingdom; to minister the word of thy truth ; to offer unto thee spiritual gifts and sacrifices; to renew thy people through the laver of regeneration. That when he shall go to meet thee, at the Second Coming of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, thine Only-begotten Son, he may receive the reward of a good steward in the degree committed unto him, through the plenitude of thy goodness.