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Offices of the Holy Eastern Church

tr. Littledale, 1863

9. When the Bishop Makes a Confessor

He says the “Blessed be God”, and then the Trisagion, the All-Holy Trinity, our Father. For Thine is the kingdom, and then the following prayer.

The Deacon: Let us beseech the Lord.

The Bishop: Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who didst bestow upon Peter and the other eleven Disciples the apostolic and spiritual ministry, and didst command them to loose and to bind the offences of men, do Thou make now Thy servant (N.), who has been chosen by me, and admitted to all grace, worthy for Thine apostolic and spiritual ministry, at my hands mean as I am, that he may loose and bind the offences of sinners. For Thou art the Giver of good things and to Thee we ascribe glory &c.

And after this, the Gospel.

The Deacon: Wisdom, stand up, let us hearken to the Holy Gospel.

The Bishop: Peace be to all. The Lection from the Holy Gospel according to John.

The Deacon: Let us attend.

Then the Bishop reads. S. John XX. 19—24.

Then the Bishop again says: Our meanness (or humility) through the grace of the All-Holy and Consecrating Spirit advances thee the most pious (N.) to be a Confessor, for the ministration of spiritual paternity, in the Name of the Fa- THER, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Amen. (29)

The Dismissal.