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Offices of the Holy Eastern Church
tr. Littledale, 1863
8. Ordination of a Priest
At the close of the Cherubic Hymn, (25) he who is about to be ordained Priest stands in-the Solium, and two Deacons passing out take him on each side and lead him as far as the holy doors. There the Deacons leave him, and two Priests (the first and second) receive him, and walk thrice round the Holy Table, saying: “Holy Martyrs, valiantly contending”. (26)
Note, that when they sing: “Holy Martyrs”, the Bishop sits on a throne before the Holy Table, and there, as they circle round about, when they come in front, they make an obeisance, and the Candidate kisses the Bishop’s knee above the Pall. Then the Bishop rises, and the Candidate advances to him, and is signed by him thrice on the head. And after this, resting his forehead on the Holy Table, he kneels on both knees. And when the Deacon exclaims: “Let us attend”, the Bishop immediately exclaims, holding his right hand on the Candidate’s head:
The Divine Grace, which always healeth that which is sick, and filleth up that which lacketh, advances (N.) the most pious Deacon to be Priest. Let us therefore pray for him, that the grace of the All-Holy Spirit may come upon him.
Then those within the Bema, and the singers say thrice: Lord have mercy. The Bishop having again signed him thrice, and keeping the hand on his head, says the following prayer secretly, after the Deacon has said: Let us beseech the Lord:
O God, Unbeginning and Unending, Who art elder than all creation, Who hast honoured with the title of Priest those accounted worthy to discharge the holy ministry of the word of Thy truth in this degree; vouchsafe, O Lord of all, that this man whom Thou hast been pleased to advance by me, may receive this great grace of Thy Holy Spirit, in blameless conversation and unswerving faith, and make Thy servant perfect, in all things well-pleasing unto Thee, and guiding well this great Priestly honour given into him by Thy foreknowing power. For Thine is the might, and Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.
And after this prayer, the principal Priest says in a low tone, loud enough for his colleagues to hear and respond, the Diaconal sentences:
In peace &c. (as for a Deacon).
For the servant of God (N.) now advanced to be Priest and for his salvation.
That our loving God may grant him a spotless and blameless Priesthood &c.
The Bishop, holding his hand still on the head of the Candidate, prays again as follows secretly:
O God, mighty in power, and unsearchable in wisdom, wonderful in counsel, above the sons of men, fill, O Lord, with the gift of Thy Holy Spirit this man whom Thou hast been pleased should enter the degree of Priest, that he may be worthy to stand blamelessly before Thine Altar, to preach the Gospel of Thy kingdom, to discharge the sacred ministry of the word of Thy truth, to offer unto Thee gifts, and spiritual sacrifices, to renew Thy people through the laver of regeneration, that at the second coming of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Thine Only-Begotten Son, he may there receive the reward of his good administration of his proper order, in the multitude of Thy goodness. For Thine awful and glorious Name, that of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, is blessed and magnified now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
And after the Amen, the Bishop raises him up, and brings the back part of his stole to the front of the right side, saying: Worthy.(27) Then putting the Chasuble on him, he again exclaims: Worthy. And those in the Bema and the singers also chant it.
Then the new-ordained kisses the Bishop and the Priests, and departing takes his stand with the Priests, reading the Contakion. And the Deacon stands in the accustomed place, saying: Let us complete our supplication to the Lord. When the Holy Mysteries are hallowed, and he is about to say: That they may be to those who partake, the new-ordained advances, and the Bishop gives him the Holy Bread, saying thus:
Take this deposit and keep it, until the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, when thou shalt be asked for it by Him. (28)
And he, taking it, kisses the hand of the Bishop, and retires to his former place, putting his hands on the Holy Table, and saying to himself: Lord have mercy, and: Have mercy on me, O God.
When “Holy things to holy persons” is about to be said, then the new-ordained returns the Holy Bread, and receives from the Bishop first of all, and also says the Prayer behind the Ambon.