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Prayer-Book (Euchologion)
St Sarapion of Thmuis, tr. Wordsworth, 1899
Chapter 28
[Benedictions to be said in connection with previous prayers.]
28.1 Laying on of hands (Benediction) of Catechumens.
We stretch out the hand, O Master, and pray that the divine and living hand may be stretched out in blessing on this people. For to thee, uncreated Father, through the only-begotten they have bowed their heads. Bless this people unto (εἰς) the blessing of knowledge and piety, unto the blessing of thy mysteries, through thy only-begotten Jesus Christ, through whom to thee (is) the glory and the strength in holy Spirit both now and to all the ages of the ages. Amen.
Notes
- On χειροθεσία see Int. § 8, p. 52 foll., and § 9, p. 56, and Cotelier’s note, Ap. Const. viii. 9, on the Benediction of Penitents. For similar usages see Mr. Brightman’s Glossary to his Liturgies, s. v. “Imposition of the hand,” p. 578. Very probably the different parties came round to the Bishop before they left the church, or as he was leaving it. So Silvia, Peregrinatio, frequently has the phrase, “ad manum episcopi acceditur,” or the like. (Cp. Canon. Laod. 19, quoted Int. § 5; Silvia ap. Duchesne, Origines, pp. 471-5, 495; cp. Brightman, 470, 11.) Traces of this remain here and there, as in the Coptic Church, at Rheims (I think), and at Exeter (for choristers).