Library › Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church
Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church
tr. Hapgood, 1906
The Setting Apart of Readers and Chanters
He who is to be made a Taper-bearer is led by the Sub-Deacon into the centre of the Church, before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy (see page 79), and there maketh three reverences: and turning, he saluteth the Bishop, thrice. Then, drawing near to the Bishop, he boweth his head; and the Bishop signeth him on the head with his hand. Then, laying his hand upon the candidate’s head, the Bishop saith the following Prayer:
O Lord, who enlightenest all created beings with the light of thy marvels, and knowest the intent of every man before it is formed, and strengthenest those who are desirous of serving thee: Do thou, the same Lord, array in thy fair and spotless vesture this thy servant who desireth to become a Taper-bearer (these thy servants who desire to become Taper-bearers) before thy Holy Mysteries; that he (they) may be illumined; and that attaining unto the world to come he (they) may receive the incorruptible crown of life, and rejoice with thine elect in bliss everlasting.
For hallowed is thy Name, and glorified is thy kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
But when there is no Liturgy the Bishop beginneth as follows:
Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Then shall be sung:
O heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and take up thine abode in us, and cleanse us from every stain; and save our souls, O Good One.
O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . .
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom, come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from the Evil One:
* See page xxxii.
For thine is 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. — Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Then the Hymn (Tropar)for the Day shall be read.
But if there be a Liturgy, then O Heavenly King, and O Holy God, and Our Father shall be omitted, and only the following Hymns shall be read:
O holy Apostles, entreat the merciful God that he will grant our souls remission of their sins.
The grace of thy lips, shining forth like a beacon-fire, hath illumined the universe, and hath bestowed upon the world the treasure of non-avariciousness, and hath shown us the height of humility. But as thou instructest us with thy words, O Father John Chrysostom, so also intercede thou with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.
Thy voice is gone out into all the world, in that it hath received thy word, wherewith thou hast taught in manner well-pleasing unto God, hast expounded the nature of existing things, and hast adorned the customs of mankind. O Royal Priesthood, Sainted Father, pray thou unto Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.
The shepherd’s reed of thy divine theology hath confounded the trumpets of the rhetoricians, the same being bestowed upon thee as upon one who hath searched out the deep things of the spirit, and grace of proclamation. Wherefore, O Father Gregory, entreat thou Christ-God that our souls may be saved.
Glory . . . now, and ever, . . .
Through the prayers of all the Saints, and of the Birth-giver of God, O Lord, grant us thy peace, and have mercy upon us: for thou only lovest mankind.
Then the Bishop sheareth the candidate’s head in the form of a cross, saying:
In the Name of the Father.
Then the Proto-Deacon, and the Reader, or a Chanter, shall say:
Amen.
Bishop. And of the Son.
Proto-Deacon. Amen.
Bishop. And of the Holy Spirit.
Proto-Deacon. Amen.
Then the Bishop putteth upon him the short chasuble, and again maketh, thrice, with his hand, the sign of the cross upon his head, and reciteth this Prayer:
O Lord God Almighty, elect this thy servant (these thy servants), and sanctify him (them); and enable him (them), with all wisdom and understanding, to exercise the study and reading of thy divine words, preserving him (them) in blamelessness of life.
Through the mercies and bounties and love towards mankind of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom also thou art glorified, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir. Amen.
And after the Prayer, the Bishop openeth the book of the Epistles upon the head of the Reader. And the Sub-Deacons lead him from the Bishop, and place him in the middle of the Church, with his face to the east; and the book of the Epistles is given to him, and he readeth, a little, wheresoever it may chance to befall, and turning, he boweth to the Bishop thrice, according to the rubric. Then the tunic is brought to the Bishop, and he signeth it with his hand, over the cross. And he who hath been set apart (or ordained), having signed himself with the cross, kisseth the cross upon the tunic, and the hand of the Bishop: And the Sub-Deacons vest him in the tunic; and the Bishop exhorteth him thus:
My son(s), the first degree in the Priesthood is that of Reader. It behooveth thee (you) therefore, to peruse the divine Scriptures daily, to the end that the hearers, regarding thee (you) may receive edification; that thou (ye) in nowise shaming thine (your) election, mayest prepare thyself (may prepare yourselves) for a higher degree. For by a chaste, holy and upright life thou shalt (ye shall) gain the favour of the God of loving-kindness, and shalt render thyself (shall render yourselves) worthy of a greater ministry, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom be glory unto ages of ages. Amen.
Then shall the Bishop say:
Blessed is the Lord. Lo, the servant(s) of God, N. (NN.), is (are) become a Reader (Readers) of the most holy Church of N.: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Then the Bishop giveth him (or them) a holy lamp, and he standeth (they stand) before the Bishop with the lamp, in the appointed place.