Library › Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church
Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church
tr. Hapgood, 1906
The Election and Consecration of a Bishop
(In Russia)
When the time is come for electing a Bishop to a vacant Episcopal Throne, the Most Holy Synod of Russia taketh counsel as to who knoweth of a fitting incumbent of such a dignity; and -when such person hath been selected, the Nomination of him who is designated to the Bishopric is made after the following manner:
When the time is come, the Bishops and Candidate-elect are summoned to the Most Holy Governing Synod; and when they are assembled, the Presiding Bishop putteth on his priestly stole.
Then announcement is made to the Bishop-elect by the Chief Secretary in this wise:
Honourable Father Archimandrite (or Hiero-Monk), N.: Our Sovereign Lord, N., the Emperor of All the Russias, by an edict signed with his Majesty’s name, commandeth, and the Most Holy Synod of Russia assenteth thereto, that your Holiness shall be the Bishop of the God-saved cities, NN.
And thereto the Bishop-elect maketh answer:
Seeing that our Sovereign Lord, N.,the Emperor of All the Russias, hath commanded my preferment, and that the Most Holy Governing Synod of All the Russias hath judged me worthy of this ministry, I return thanks, and accept, and say nothing contrary thereto.
Then the Presiding Bishop beginneth:
Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir. Amen.
The others say:
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.
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:
The Presiding Bishop. 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. Amen.
The others recite the following Hymn (Tropar):
Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who hast revealed the fishers most wise, sending down upon them thy Holy Spirit, and thereby catching the universe as in a net. Glory to thee, O thou who lovest mankind.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
And the Collect-Hymn [Kondak):
When the Most High confounded the tongues, he dispersed abroad the nations: but when he distributed the tongues of fire, he called all men unto unity. Wherefore, with one accord, we glorify the all-holy Spirit.
Then the Presiding Bishop reciteth this Litany:
Choir. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)
Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we beseech thee: hearken, and have mercy. ℟
Furthermore we pray for our most God-fearing Sovereign Lord, N., the Emperor of All the Russias; and for all the Reigning House. ℟
Furthermore we pray for the Most Holy Governing Synod. ℟
Furthermore we pray for the all-honourable Archimandrite (or Hiero-Monk), N., the newly-elected Bishop of the God-saved cities, NN. ℟
Furthermore we pray for all the brotherhood, and for all Orthodox Christians. ℟
Exclamation.
For thou art a merciful God, who lovest mankind, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir. Amen.
Deacon. Wisdom!
Choir. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)
Bless, Master.
And the Benediction.
May he who, in the form of tongues of fire, sent down from heaven the Holy Spirit upon his Disciples and Apostles, Christ our true God; through the prayers of his all-pure Mother, of the honourable, glorious Prophet, the Forerunner and Baptist, John, and of Saint N. (whose day it is), and of all Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for he is good and loveth man.
Then the Choir chanteth Many Years to his most God-fearing Imperial Majesty the Emperor, to the Most Holy Governing Synod, and to the Bishop-elect.
And when this is finished, the Chief Bishop riseth and blesseth the Bishop-elect with the cross, and sprinkleth him with holy water, and each one of them then departeth to his own abode.
Consecration
On the day when the Consecration is to take place, the bells are pealed for the Vigil Service, according to the Ritual: and at the Ninth Theme-Song of the Canon the great bell peals.
And the Bishops and others assemble in the Cathedral Church, and having vested themselves according to the Ritual, they ascend the tribune, preceded by the Archimandrite, the Abbot, and the Archpriest, and all the Clergy.
And in the middle of the Church, near the tribune, on the ecclesiastical carpet, there is placed the figure of a one-headed eagle, having its wings outspread, standing upright on its feet; and under its feet is a city with walls and towers, and the eagle, as it were, treading upon the towers thereof. And this is guarded so that no one may step upon the eagle. (12)
Then the Bishops command the Archpriest and the Proto-Deacon to summon him who is to receive consecration: and they, doing reverence and kissing the hands of the Bishops, take the Candidate for consecration, who is in the Sanctuary, clad in all the vestments of a Priest, and lead him upon the tail of the eagle; and he maketh three reverences. The Proto-Deacon first leadeth the Bishop-elect, proclaiming and saying, in an audible voice, these things following:
The God-beloved, elect and confirmed Archimandrite (or Hiero-Monk), N., is led forth for consecration to the Bishopric of the God-saved city, N. (cities NN.).
And to the Bishop-elect, holding in his hands the holy writing of the Orthodox faith, the Chief Bishop saith:
Wherefore art thou come, and what dost thou ask of our meekness?
The Bishop-elect maketh answer, saying:
The laying-on of hands, unto the grace of the Bishop’s office, Most Reverend Sirs.
And the Bishop questioneth him, saying:
And how believest thou?
And the Bishop-elect reciteth, aloud, The Symbol of the Faith:
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds; Light of Light, Very God of very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one Essence with the Father; By whom all things were made; Who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried, And the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead. And the Life of the world to come. Amen.
And when he hath said this, the Bishop blesseth him with the sign of the cross, and saith:
The grace of God the Father, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, be with thee.
The Bishop-elect is then led to the middle of the eagle, the Proto-Deacon proclaiming his being led, as was explained above:
The God-beloved ... is led . . . and so forth, as before.
And when the Bishop-elect hath been placed upon the centre of the eagle, the Chief Bishop directeth his words to him, and saith:
Reveal unto us more particularly how thou believest concerning the properties of the three Persons of the ineffable Godhead, and concerning the Incarnation of the Person of the Son and Word of God
And the Bishop-elect immediately readeth, aloud, the Second Confession of Faith, as followeth:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; For he is without beginning, unbegotten, and without cause, but is himself the natural beginning and cause of the Son, and of the Spirit. And I believe in his Only-begotten Son, without mutation and without time begotten of him, being of one Essence with Him by whom all things were made. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, who proceedeth from the same Father, and with him is glorified as coeternal, being of one Essence with him, and equal in glory, and enthroned together with him, the Author of creation. I believe that one of the same supersubstantial and life-giving Trinity, the Only-begotten Word, came down from heaven, for us men, and for our salvation, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin
Mary, and was made man; that is to say, was made perfect man, yet remaining God, and in nowise changing his divine essence by his participation in the flesh, neither being transmuted into anything else: but without mutation assuming man’s nature, he therein endured suffering and death, being free in his divine nature from every suffering. And on the third day he rose again from the dead; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of his God and Father. And I believe those traditions and narrations concerning the one Catholic and Apostolic Church which we have received from God and the men of God. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Furthermore I confess the one Person, the Word made flesh; and I believe and proclaim that Christ is one and the same in two natures after his incarnation, preserving those things which were in them and from them. Therefore, also, I adore two wills, in that each nature retaineth its own special will and its own action. I reverence, relatively, but not in the way of worship, the images divine and reverence-worthy of Christ himself, and of the all-undefiled Mother of God, and of all the Saints, addressing to their originals the honour shown to them. I reject as ill-advised those who think otherwise. And I literally and truly confess our Sovereign Lady, Mary the Birth-giver of God, as having borne in the flesh one of the Trinity, even Christ our God. And may the same be my helper, protector, and defender all the days of my life. Amen.
And immediately the Bishop saith, blessing in the form of a cross him who is receiving Consecration:
The grace of the Holy Spirit be with thee, enlightening, strengthening and endowing thee with wisdom all the days of thy life.
Then the Bishop-elect is led upon the head of the eagle, and after the Proto-Deacon hath proclaimed his preferment, as above described, and hath placed him on the head of the eagle, the Bishop saith to him:
Declare unto us, also, what thou thinkest concerning the Canons of the holy Apostles and the holy Fathers, and the traditions and regulations of the Church.
And the Bishop-elect immediately readeth, in a loud voice, the Third Confession of Faith:
In this my confession of the holy faith, I promise to observe the Canons of the holy Apostles, and of the Seven Œcumenical Councils, and of the pious Provincial Councils, the traditions of the Church, and the decrees, orders and regulations of the Holy Fathers. And all things whatsoever they have accepted I also accept; and whatsoever things they have rejected those will I also reject.
I promise also to preserve the peace of the Church, and firmly to hold and zealously to teach the people entrusted to me, and not to devise anything whatsoever which is contrary to the Orthodox Catholic Christian faith of the East all the days of my life; and that I will, in all things, follow and always obey the Most Holy Governing Synod of All the Russias, recognized and confirmed by the Four Patriarchs of the Catholic Church of the East as equal in dignity and power with themselves; and to be, in all things, of one mind with the Most Reverend Metropolitans, Archbishops and Bishops, my brethren, and conjointly with them submissive to the divine law, and the sacred rules of the Holy Apostles and Holy Fathers; and with all sincerity to cherish towards them spiritual affection; and to regard them as brethren.
And I promise to rule the flock committed unto me in the fear of God and in devoutness of life; and with all diligent heed to guard it against all heresies of doctrine.
And I also confess, in this my written profession of faith, that neither by the promise nor by the gift of gold or of silver am I come to this ministry; but, on the contrary, I have received it by the election of the Most Holy Governing Synod of All the Russias, and by the election of our most God-fearing Emperor, N., the Sovereign of All the Russias.
And herewith I promise also to do nothing through constraint, whether coerced by powerful persons, or by a multitude of the people, even though they should command me, under pain of death, to do something contrary to divine and holy laws: nor to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in another diocese than my own, nor to exercise any other priestly function without the permission of the Bishop of that diocese; and that I will not ordain either a Priest, or a Deacon, or any other ecclesiastic in another’s diocese, nor receive such into my diocese without letters of dismissal from their own Bishops.
I will deal with the opponents of the Holy Church with reasonableness, uprightness and gentleness, according to the Apostle Paul; And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves; if God, peradventure, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
I promise to visit and watch over the flock now confided to me, after the manner of the Apostles, whether they remain true to the faith, and in the exercise of good works, more especially the Priests; and to inspect with diligence, and to exhort and inhibit, that there may be no schisms, superstitions and impious veneration, and that no customs contrary to Christian piety and good morals may injure Christian conduct.
And all those things, my bounden duty, which I have this day promised in word, I also promise to perform in deed unto my uttermost breath, for the sake of the covenanted good things to come. And may God, who seeth the heart, be the witness to my vow. And may our Saviour himself be my helper, in my sincere and zealous government and my performance thereof; and unto Him, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory and dominion, honour and worship, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
And when this is completed, the Presiding Bishop, blessing him, saith:
The grace of the Holy Spirit, through my humility, exalteth thee, most God-beloved Archimandrite (or Hiero-Monk), N., to be the Bishop-elect of the God-saved cities, NN.
And the Bishop-elect maketh three reverences to the Presiding Bishop; and the Proto-Deacon leadeth him to the Bishops. And he, delivering to the same the written statement of his faith and his promise, kisseth their right hands.
And thus he descendeth from the tribune (amvon), and maketh a reverence. And the Presiding Bishop, signing him with his hand, in the form of a cross, saith:
The grace of the Most Holy Spirit be with thee.
And they lead him upon the eagle, and the Choir chanteth Many Years to His Imperial Majesty, to the Synod, and to the newly-elected Bishop.
(The Divine Liturgy is then begun, the Bishop-elect standing until his Consecration (or Ordination) in the Deacon’s chapel (Diakonnik), or the chapel on the south of the Altar, fully vested as a Priest).
And after the Thrice-Holy hath been sung, (13) he who is to receive Ordination is led forth by the Archpriest and the Proto-Deacon, in front of the Holy Door (see page 87); and is received by the Bishops in the holy Sanctuary, before the Holy Altar. And he straightway kneeleth down on both knees, in the midst of the Bishops. And they take the book of the Holy Gospels, and opening it, they lay it, with the writing downward, upon his head, holding it here and there. (14)
Then the Presiding Bishop saith, so that all may hear:
By the election and approbation of the most God-loving Bishops, and of all the consecrated Council,
The grace divine, which always healeth that which is infirm, and completeth that which is wanting, through the laying-on of hands elevateth thee, the most God-loving Archimandrite (or Hiero-Monk) N., duly elected, to be the Bishop of the God-saved cities, NN.
Wherefore let us pray for him, that the grace of the all-holy Spirit may come upon him.
And a Priest saith:
Let us pray to the Lord. (Thrice.)
And while the Bishops hold the book of the Holy Gospels, the Presiding Bishop maketh three crosses above the head of him who is being consecrated, blessing him:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
And while the Bishops lay their right hands upon his head, the Presiding Bishop saith this Prayer:
O Master, Lord our God, who through thine all-laudable Apostle Paul hast established for us an ordinance of degrees and ranks, unto the service and divine celebration of thine august and all-spotless Mysteries upon thy holy Altar; first, Apostles, secondly, Prophets, thirdly, teachers: Do thou, the same Lord of all, who also hast graciously enabled this chosen person to come under the yoke of the Gospel and the dignity of a Bishop through the laying-on of hands of us, his fellow Bishops here present, strengthen him by the inspiration and power and grace of thy Holy Spirit, as thou didst strengthen thy holy Apostles and Prophets; as thou didst anoint Kings; as thou hast consecrated Bishops: And make his Bishopric to be blameless; and adorning him with all dignity, present thou him holy, that he may be worthy to ask those things which are for the salvation of the people, and that thou mayest give ear unto him. For blessed is thy Name, and glorified thy Kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
And after the Amen, one of the other consecrating Bishops reciteth the following petitions in a low voice, so that only the Prelates there present can hear and respond:
Secretly.
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
let us pray to the Lord. Response. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of our souls: ℟
For the peace of the whole world; for the welfare of God’s holy Churches, and for the union of them all: ℟
For the Most Holy Governing Synod, their holiness, succour, maintenance, peace, health and salvation, and for the work of their hands: ℟
For the servant of God, N., now ordained to be a Bishop, and for his salvation: ℟
That our God who loveth mankind will grant him to exercise his episcopal office without stain or blame: ℟
For our most God-fearing Sovereign Lord, N., the Emperor of All the Russias; and for all the Reigning House; and for all their Council and their Army and Navy: ℟
For this city, and for every city, and for all those who entreat of God aid and protection: ℟
That he will deliver us from all tribulation, wrath, peril and necessity; ℟
Succour us, save us, have mercy upon us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Lord, have mercy.
Calling to remembrance our most holy, undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
To thee, O Lord.
And when these things have been said, the Presiding Bishop, who also hath his hand upon the head of him who is receiving Ordination, prayeth thus:
O Lord our God, who, forasmuch as it is impossible for the nature of man to endure the Essence of the Godhead, in thy providence hast instituted for us teachers of like nature with ourselves, who maintain thine Altar, that they may offer unto thee sacrifice and oblation for all thy people; Do thou, the same Lord, make this man also, who hath been proclaimed a steward of the episcopal grace, to be an imitator of thee, the true Shepherd, who didst lay down thy life for thy sheep; to be a leader of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a reprover of the unwise, a teacher of the young, a lamp to the world: that, having perfected the souls entrusted unto him in this present life, he may stand unashamed before thy throne, and receive the great reward which thou hast prepared for those who have contended valiantly for the preaching of thy Gospel.
For thine it is to show mercy, and to save us, O our God, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
And after the Amen they lay the book of the Holy Gospels upon the Altar. And the Presiding Bishop then putteth the dalmatic (sakkos) and the other episcopal vestments upon him who hath received Consecration, saying:
Axios! (15)
And the Choir singeth the same.
Then the Bishops kiss him who hath received consecration; and when the customary thanksgivings have been said, the Presiding Bishop proclaimeth the Peace before the Epistle. And the Bishops go to the episcopal seats in the apse, and sit there.
And the celebration of the Divine Liturgy is continued.
And when it is finished, they invest in the holy Sanctuary, and lead the newly-consecrated Bishop to the Presiding Bishop, who putteth upon him the cassock of a Bishop; also the pectoral holy image, the mantle and cowl, blessing him with his hand as he doeth it; and he giveth him the rosary. Then the Bishops come forth from the Sanctuary, and ascend the dais (kathedra) which hath been prepared; and the Archpriest and the Proto-Deacon lead him who hath received Consecration upon the dais; and the Presiding Bishop delivereth to him the pastoral staff (posokh), with an Exhortation.
Right Reverend Bishop N.: . . .
Or, when the Bishop delivereth the staff, he useth this brief Exhortation:
Receive thou the pastoral staff, that thou mayest feed the flock of Christ entrusted unto thee: and be thou a staff and support unto those who are obedient. But lead thou the disobedient and the wayward unto correction, unto gentleness, and unto obedience; and they shall continue in due submission.
Then they depart to their abodes, the Archpriest and the Proto-Deacon escorting the newly-ordained Bishop to his home.