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Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church

tr. Hapgood, 1906

The Elevation of an Archdeacon or Proto-Deacon

He that is to be raised to the Archdiaconate is led, by a Proto-Deacon and a Deacon, to the Reverend Bishop, in the middle of the Church, where the Bishop standeth, at the time when the Lesser Entrance with the book of the Holy Gospels is made. (See page 84.) And he boweth, thrice, before the Bishop, even to his girdle, and bendeth his head. Then the Bishop, sitting, maketh the sign of the cross, thrice, with his hand, upon his head; and rising, layeth his hand upon his head. And when the Deacon hath said:

Let us pray to the Lord:

The Bishop reciteth the following Prayer:

O Master, Lord our God, who hast bestowed upon our race the Archdeaconship, granting, through thine unspeakable providence, that they who are endued therewith may order and serve thy Divine Mysteries as lesser ministers: Do thou, the same Lord, endue with this grace of the Archdeaconship this thy servant, N., and adorn him with thine integrity, to stand at the head of the Deacons of thy people, and to be an example of good to those who are under him. Cause him to attain unto a ripe old age, that he may magnify thy glorious Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Bishop maketh the sign of the cross upon his head, saying:

Blessed is God. Lo, the servant of God, N., becometh an Archdeacon (or a Proto-Deacon): In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

And laying his hand upon the head of him that is elevated, the Bishop exclaimeth:

Axios! (Thrice.) *

And the Choir singeth, thrice:

Axios.

And then they enter the Sanctuary, according to the Ritual.

* See Appendix B, VIII (8).