Ordinations

ΤΑΞΙΣ ΓΙΝΟΜΕΝΗ ΕΠΙ ΧΕΙΡΟΤΟΝΙΑ ΥΠΟΔΙΑΚΟΝΟΥ

Ordination to the Sub-Diaconate

Τοῦ Ἀρχιερέως καθεζομένου ἐπὶ τῆς ὡραίας πύλης, πρὸ τοῦ ἄρξασθαι τῆς Λειτουργίας, προσάγεται τῶ Ἀρχιερεῖ ὁ μέλλων χειροτονεῖσθαι ὑποδιάκονος, εἰ μὲν κοσμικός ἐστι, μετὰ φελωνίου, εἰ δὲ μοναχός, μετὰ μανδύου. Κελεύει δὲ ὁ Αρχιερεὺς ἀποδύσασθαι τοῦτον το φελώνιον, ἢ τὸ μανδύον, καὶ ἐνδύσασθει στοιχάριον, καὶ ζώσασθαι κομισθῆναι δὲ χερνιβόξεστον, καὶ μανδύλιον. Εἶτα σφραγίζων τρὶς τὴν αὐτοῦ κεφαλήν, καὶ ἐπιθεὶς αὐτῷ τὴν χεῖρα, τοῦ διακόνου λέγοντος·

At the conclusion of Matins the candidate is brought before the Hierarch at the throne, and the canonical testimonial (symmartyria) is read. The Hierarch then makes the sign of the cross three times over the candidate, saying:

ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ

HIERARCH

Εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος. Ἀμήν. (3)

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. (3)

ΔΙΑΚΟΝΟΣ

DEACON

Τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

Let us pray to the Lord.

( Κύριε, ἐλέησον. )

( Lord, have mercy. )

ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ

HIERARCH

Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ διὰ τοῦ ἑνὸς καὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος διαιρῶν ἑκάστῳ ὧν ἐξελέξω τὰ σὰ χαρίσματα, ὁ τάγματα διάφορα τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ σου δωρησάμενος, βαθμοὺς λειτουργίας καταστησάμενος ἐν αὐτῇ πρὸς ὑπηρεσίαν τῶν ἁγίων σου καὶ ἀχράντων μυστηρίων, ὁ τῇ σῇ ἀρρήτῳ προγνώσει ὁρίσας καὶ τοῦτον τὸν δοῦλόν σου (δεῖνα) ἄξιον εἶναι τοῦ ὑπηρετεῖν τῇ ἁγίᾳ σου ἐκκλησίᾳ· αὐτὸς, Δέσποτα, ἀκατάγνωστον ἐν πᾶσιν διαφύλαξον, καὶ δὸς αὐτῷ ἀγαπᾶν εὐπρέπειαν οἴκου σου, παρεστάναι ταῖς θύραις τοῦ ναοῦ τοῦ ἁγίου σου, ἀνάπτειν λύχνους σκηνώματος δόξης σου, καὶ καταφύτευσον αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ σου ἐκκλησίᾳ ὡς ἐλαίαν κατάκαρπον καρποφοροῦντα καρπὸν δικαιοσύνης, καὶ τέλειον ἀνάδειξον δοῦλον σου ἐν καιρῷ τῆς παρουσίας σου τῆς τῶν εὐαρεστησάντων σοι ἀπολαύοντα ἀμοιβῆς.

Lord our God, through the one and same Holy Spirit You distribute gifts of grace to each person whom You have chosen. You have given a variety of orders to the Church, in which You have established different degrees of ministry in service of Your holy and immaculate sacraments. In Your ineffable foreknowledge You have determined that this Your servant (name) is worthy to minister in Your holy Church. We pray You, O Master, to preserve him blameless in all things. Grant him to love the beauty of Your house, to stand by the doors of Your holy temple, and to light the lamps of this place where Your glory resides. Plant him in Your holy Church like a fruitful olive tree that brings forth the fruit of righteousness. May he be a perfect servant of Yours when You come again, and may he receive the reward of those who are pleasing to You.

Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

( Ἀμήν. )

( Amen. )

Καὶ μετὰ τῆ ἐκφώνησιν, δεχόμεονς ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς τὸ μανδύλιον, ἐπιτίθησι τῷ ἀριστερῷ ὤμῳ τοῦ χειροτονουμένου. Ὁμοίως δίδωσιν αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ χερνιβόξεστον. Ὁ δὲ λαβών, ἀσπάζεται τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ βάλλει ὕδωρ εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, καὶ νίπτεται. Λεγων καὶ τό, Ὅσοι πιστοί, τρίς.

The newly-ordained sub-deacon stands before the Hierarch, holding a pitcher of water in his right hand, and a bowl in his left, with a towel placed over his left arm. The Hierarch washes his hands, and then splashes water in the face of the sub-deacon. While he does this, the sub-deacon intones:

ΥΠΟΔΙΑΚΟΝΟΣ

SUB-DEACON

Ὅσοι πιστοί! (3)

All the faithful! (3)

Καὶ οὕτω λαμβάνων εὐλογίαν, ἀπερχόμενος, ἵσταται ἐμπροσθεν τῶν ἁγίων θυρῶν, καὶ προσεύχεται μυστικῶς.

The newly-ordained sub-deacon is led to stand before the icon of our Lord Jesus Christ, where he prays silently.

ΤΑΞΙΣ ΓΙΝΟΜΕΝΗ ΕΠΙ ΧΕΙΡΟΤΟΝΙΑ ΔΙΑΚΟΝΟΥ

Ordination to the Diaconate

Μετὰ τὸ εἰπεῖν τὸν Ἀρχιερέα τὴν ἐκφώνησιν, τό: «Καὶ ἔσται τὰ ἐλέη τοῦ μεγάλου Θεοῦ καὶ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν», ἐξελθόντες δύο Διάκονοι, ἐκ τοῦ ἁγίου Βήματος ἀπὸ τῆς βορείας Πύλης, λαμβάνουσι τὸν μέλλοντα χειροτονεῖσθαι Διάκονον ἐξ ἑκατέρου μέρους καὶ φέρουσιν αὐτὸν ἄχρι τῶν ἁγίων θυρῶν. Καὶ τοῦ Ἀρχιερέως ἱσταμένου πρὸ τῆς ὡραίας Πύλης, ἐκφωνεῖ ὁ πρῶτος τῶν Διακόνων.

During the Liturgy, after the Hierarch has intoned “And may the mercies of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all,” two Deacons exit, and bring the sub-deacon is before the Hierarch. They stand on the solea, facing the Hierarch who stands in the Beautiful Gate.

Κέλευσον.

Command.

Κελεύσατε.

All command.

Κέλευσον, Δέσποτα ἅγιε, τὸν νῦν προσφερόμενόν σοι.

Command, Holy Master, the one who presents himself before you.

Καὶ πάλιν ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς ὑποδέχεται αὐτὸν καὶ σφραγίζων τρὶς τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, λέγει:

The Hierarch in turn receives him and makes the sign of the Cross three times over his head, saying:

Καὶ εἰσάγουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ ἅγιον Βῆμα, κυκλοῦντες τὴν ἁγίαν Τράπεζαν τρὶς ἀπὸ τῶν δεξιῶν πρὸς τὰ ἀριστερὰ καὶ ψάλλοντες.

The sub-deacon addresses the Hierarch, then the Hierarch counsels the sub-deacon. Afterwards, the sub-deacon is brought into the sanctuary, and led by the deacons, circles the altar three times while the clergy sing:

Ἦχος βαρύς.

Grave Mode.

Ἅγιοι Μάρτυρες, οἱ καλῶς ἀθλήσαντες, καὶ στεφανωθέντες, πρεσβεύσατε πρὸς Κύριον, ἐλεηθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

O holy Martyr Saints, who competed well and received the crowns of laurel, intercede with the Lord for us, that His mercy come upon our souls.

Ἦχος βαρύς.

Grave Mode.

Δόξα σοι Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, Ἀποστόλων καύχημα, Μαρτύρων ἀγαλλίαμα, ὧν τὸ κήρυγμα, Τριὰς ἡ ὁμοούσιος.

Glory be to You, Christ our God, the Apostles’ pride and joy, exultation of the Martyr Saints, whose proclamation was the consubstantial Trinity.

Ἦχος πλ. αʹ.

Mode pl. 1.

Ἠσαΐα χόρευε, ἡ Παρθένος ἔσχεν ἐν γαστρί, καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱὸν τὸν Ἐμμανουήλ, Θεόν τε καὶ ἄνθρωπον· Ἀνατολὴ ὄνομα αὐτῷ· ὂν μεγαλύνοντες, τὴν Παρθένον μακαρίζομεν.

O Isaiah, dance with joy, * for the Virgin conceived in the womb; * and she brought forth a son, who is God and man. * His name is Emmanuel, Dayspring and dawn, Orient, The Branch. * We magnify the Lord, and we also call the Virgin blest.

Ἰστεόν ὅτι, ὅταν ψάλλωσι τὰ τροπάρια, κάθηται ἔμπροσθεν τῆς ἁγίας Τραπέζης ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς εἰς θρονίον μικρὸν καὶ ἐκεῖ ὅπου κυκλοῦσι γύρωθεν, ἀσπάζεται ὀ χειροτονούμενος τὰ τέσσαρα κέρατα τῆς ἁγίας Τραπέζης. Καὶ ὅταν ἔρχωνται πρὸ τοῦ Ἀρχιερέως, ποιοῦσι μετάνοιαν καὶ ἀσπάζεται ὁ χειροτονούμενος τὴν χεῖρα καὶ τὸ ἐπιγονάτιον αὐτοῦ, μετὰ δὲ τὴν τρίτην περιφορὰν ἐξέρχονται τοῦ Βήματος καὶ ἀσπάζεται ὁ χειροτονούμενος τὰς ἁγίας εἱκόνας κατὰ τάξιν.

Note that as they sing the Troparia, the Hierarch sits on a small throne near the front of the altar table, and as they go around the candidate kisses the four corners of the altar table. And when they come to the Hierarch, they bow and the candidate kisses his hand and epigonation. After the third time around, they go outside the altar and the candidate venerates the holy icons in order.

Εἶτα προσέρχεται ὁ χειροτονούμενος τῷ Ἀρχιερεῖ, καὶ ἵσταται κατὰ τὸ δεξιὸν μέρος αὐτοῦ, καὶ θέτει τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τῆς ἁγίας Τραπέζης σταυροειδῶς, καὶ ἐρείδει τὸ μέτωπον αὐτοῦ τῇ ἁγίᾳ Τραπέζῃ, καὶ κλίνει τὸ γόνυ τὸ δεξίον καὶ ἐκφωνεῖ ὁ Ἀρχιδιάκονος:

They bring the Candidate to the Hierarch at the front of the Altar. The Subdeacon kneels before the Altar placing his hands on the Altar and his head upon his hands. The Hierarch makes the sign of the Cross three times over his head. After the Deacon proclaims, “Let us be attentive!” the Hierarch places his hand on the head of the Subdeacon and recites the Prayer, “The Divine grace…”

Ἡ Θεία Χάρις, ἡ πάντοτε τὰ ἀσθενῆ θεραπεύουσα καὶ τὰ ἐλλείποντα ἀναπληροῦσα, προχειρίζεται (δεῖνα) τὸν εὐλαβέστατον Ὑποδιάκονον εἰς Διάκονον. Εὐξώμεθα οὖν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ἔλθῃ ἐπʼ αὐτον ἡ χάρις τοῦ Παναγίου Πνεύματος.

The divine grace, which always heals that which is infirm and completes that which is lacking, ordains the most devout Subdeacon (name) to the office of Deacon. Let us, therefore, pray for him, that the grace of the All-Holy Spirit may come upon him.

Καὶ ψάλλεται παρατεταμένως καὶ ἴσον τῷ ἀκούεσθαι τὸ Κύριε ἐλέησον (γʹ) παρὰ τῶν ἐν τῷ Βήματι καὶ παρὰ τῶν ἐκτός.

Lord have mercy (3) is sung in a long melody just loud enough to be heard by those inside and outside the altar.

Ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς ἔχων τὴν χεῖρα ἐπικειμένην, εὔχεται οὕτω χαμηλοφώνως.

The Hierarch lays his hand on the head of the candidate and in a low voice prays the following:

Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμων, ὁ τῇ προγνώσει τῇ σῇ τὴν τοῦ Ἀγίου σου Πνεύματος χορηγίαν καταπέμπων ἐπὶ τοὺς ὡρισμένους ὑπὸ τῆς σῆς ἀνεξιχνιάστου δυνάμεως, λειτουργοὺς γενέσθαι, καὶ ἐξυπηρετεῖσθαι τοῖς ἀχράντοις σου Μυστηρίοις· αὐτός, Δέσποτα, καὶ τοῦτον, ὃν εὐδόκησας προχειρισθῆναι παρʼ ἑμοῦ εἰς τὴν τῆς Διακονίας λειτουργίαν, ἐν πάσῃ σεμνότητι διατήρησον, ἔχοντα τὸ μυστήριον τῆς πίστεως ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει. Δώρησαι δὲ αὐτῷ τὴν χάριν, ἣν ἐδωρήσω Στεφάνῳ τῷ πρωτομάρτυρί σου, ὃν καὶ ἐκάλεσας πρῶτον εἰς τὸ ἔργον τῆς διακονίας σου, καὶ καταξίωσον αὐτόν, κατὰ τὸ σοὶ εὐάρεστον, οἰκονομῆσαι τὸν παρὰ τῆς σῆς ἀγαθότητος δεδωρημένον αὐτῷ βαθμόν· οἱ γὰρ καλῶς διακονήσαντες, βαθμὸν ἑαυτοῖς καλὸν περιποιοῦνται· καὶ τέλειον ἀνάδειξον δοῦλόν σου. Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα, τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ( Ἀμήν. )

Lord our God, in Your providence You send your Holy Spirit upon those who are ordained by Your unsearchable power to become servants to minister Your Pure Mysteries, do You Lord, look upon this man whom You have consented to be ordained by me to the service of the Diaconate and preserve him in all humility, that he may hold the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. Grant to him the grace which You gave to Stephen, Your first martyr, whom You called first to the ministry of Your Diaconate. Make him worthy to please You as he serves You in the office which you, in your goodness, bestowed upon him. For those who minister well prepare themselves for good reward; and proclaim him Your perfect servant. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. ( Amen. )

Καὶ μετὰ τὸ Ἀμήν, λέγει ὁ Διάκονος λεπτῇ τῇ φωνῇ, ὅσον ἀκούειν καὶ ἀποκρίνεσθαι τοὺς συμπαρόντας Διακόνους καὶ Ἱερεῖς τὸ Κύριε ἐλέησον, τὰ διακονικὰ ταῦτα:

The first deacon recites the following petitions in a low voice while the clergy respond, “Lord, have mercy.”

Ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ἀρχιεπισκόπου ἡμῶν (δεῖνος), ἱερωσύνης, ἀντιλήψεως, διαμονῆς, εἰρήνης, ὑγείας, καὶ σωτηρίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἔργου τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ, τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

For our our Archbishop (name), for his priesthood, sustenance, sojourn, peace, health, salvation, and for the works of his hands, let us pray to the Lord.

Ὑπὲρ τοῦ δούλου τοῦ Θεοῦ (δεῖνος), τοῦ νυνὶ προχειριζομένου Διακόνου, καὶ τῆς σωτηρίας αὐτῶ, τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

For the servant of God (name), who has now been ordained a deacon, and for his salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Ὅπως ὁ φιλάνθρωπος Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἄσπιλον καὶ ἀμώμητον αὐτῷ τὴν διακονίαν χαρίσηται, τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

That our benevolent God will grant to him a pure and blameless diaconate, let us pray to the Lord.

Καὶ τούτων ῥηθέντων, ὁ Ἀρχιερευς ἔχων τὴν χεῖρα ἐπικειμένην, ἐπεύχεται καὶ αὖθις οὕτως:

While the 1st deacon intones the petitions, the bishop reads the following prayer with his hand still on the new deacon’s head:

Θεὸς Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, ὁ τῇ ἀφθάρτῳ σου φωνῇ τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις σου θεσπίσας τὸν τῆς Διακονίας νόμον καὶ τὸν πρωτομάρτυρα Στέφανον τοιοῦτον ἀναδείξας, καὶ πρῶτον αὐτὸν κηρύξας τὸ τοῦ Διακόνου πληροῦντα ἔργον, καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ ἀγίῳ Εὐαγγελίῳ σου «Ὅστις θέλει ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι πρῶτος, ἔστω ὑμῶν διάκονος»· Σὺ Δέσποτα τῶν ἁπάντων, καὶ τὸν δοῦλόν σου τοῦτον, ὃν κατηξίωσας τὴν τοῦ Διακόνου ὑπεισελθεῖν λειτουργίαν, πλήρωσον πάσης πίστεως, καὶ ἀγάπης, καὶ δυνάμεως, καὶ ἁγιασμοῦ, τῇ ἐπιφοιτήσει τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ ζωοποιοῦ σου Πνεύματος· οὐ γὰρ ἐν τῇ ἐπιθέσει τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν, ἀλλʼ έν τῇ ἐπισκοπῇ τῶν πλουσιῶν σου οἰκτιρμῶν δίδοται χάρις τοῖς ἀξίοις σου ἵνα καὶ οὖτος, πάσης ἁμαρτίας ἐκτὸς γενόμενος, ἐν τῇ φοβερᾷ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεώς σου ἀμέμπτως σοι παραστῆ, καὶ τὸν μισθὸν τὸν ἀδιάψευστον τῆς σῆς ἐπαγγελίας κομίσηται. Σὺ γὰρ εἶ ὸ Θεὸς ὴμῶν, καὶ σοὶ τὴν δόξαν ἀναπέμπομεν, σὺν τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Ἁγίῳ Πνεώματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰῶνων. ( Ἀμήν. )

O God our Savior, by your immortal voice You established the office of the diaconate through Your Apostles and showed forth the First martyr Stephen whom You elected first to fulfill the work of a deacon. It is written in your holy Gospel, “whoever would be first among you, let him be your servant.” Lord of all fill this, Your servant, whom you have consented to enter the ministry of a deacon with the totality of faith, love, power, and sanctification by the descent of Your Holy and Life-giving Spirit. For not through the laying on of my hands, but by the divine visitation of your rich mercies grace is bestowed upon your worthy ones; that he, liberated from every sin, may stand blameless by You in the awesome Day of Judgment and receive the true reward of Your promise. For You are our God, and to You we offer up glory, and to the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. ( Amen. )

Καὶ μετὰ τὸ Ἀμήν, ἀνισταμένου τοῦ χειροτονουμένου ἐμφανίζει τοῦτον ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς τῷ λαῶ καὶ περιτίθησι τὸ Ὀράριον τὸν άριστερὸν αὐτοῦ ὦμον, λέγων ἐκφώνως «Ἄξιος».

Everyone stands and the bishop proclaims the newly-ordained Deacon “Axios!” (“Worthy!”) to which the congregation responds “Axios!” The bishop will hold up each item of the deacon’s vestments and again proclaim “Axios!” each time to which the congregation also responds “Axios!” and vests the new deacon.

Καὶ ψάλλεται τὸ «Ἄξιος» τρὶς παρὰ τῶν τοῦ Βήματος.

Εἶτα ἐπιτίθησιν ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς ἑκατέρα χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τὰ ἐπιμάνικα, λέγων ἐκφώνως «Ἄξιος».

Καὶ ψάλλεται τὸ «Ἄξιος» τρὶς παρὰ τοῦ αʹ χοροῦ.

[Εἶτα στρέφων ὁ Αρχιερεὺς τὸν χειροτονηθέντα κατενώπιον τοῦ Λαοῦ, λέγει ἐκφώνως «Αὕτη ἡ ἀλλοίωσις τῆς δεξιᾶς τοῦ Ὑψίστου». Καὶ ψάλλεται τρίς, ἅπαξ παρὰ τῶν ἐν τῷ Βήματι καὶ παρʼ ἑκατέρου τῶν χορῶν, «Τίς Θεὸς μέγας ὡς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν; Σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεός, ὁ ποιῶν θαυμάσια μόνος».]

[Then the Hierarch turns the new Deacon to face the people and says aloud: “This change is by the right hand of the Most High.” Then the Great Prokeimenon is sung three times, first by the clergy then by the two choirs: “Who is so great a God….”

Εἶτα ὁ Αρχιερεὺς δίδωσιν αὐτῷ ἀγάπην, ἤτοι ἀσπάζεται αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ μέτωπον, ὁ δὲ χειροτονούμενος ἀσπάζεται τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Ἀρχιερέως.

Εἶθʼ οὕτως συνεχίζεται ἡ θεία Λειτουργία.

The Divine Liturgy continues.

Εἰς δὲ τὸν τῆς Μεταλήψεως καιρόν, πρῶτος τῶν ἄλλων Διακόνων ὁ χειροτονηθεὶς μετέχει τῶν θείων Μυστηρίων, καὶ λέγει τὰ διακονικὰ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῶν, ἤγουν τό, «Ὀρθοί μεταλαβόντες…»

Ταῦτα δὲ γίνονται, ὅταν γίνηται Λειτουργία τελεία. Επεὶ δὲ καὶ ἐν ταῖς Προηγιασμέναις γίνεται χειροτονία Διακόνου, ἰστέον ὅτι μετὰ τὸ ἀποτεθῆναι τὰ Προηγιασμένα ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ Τραπέζῃ, πρὶν εἰπεῖν τὸν Διἀκονον «Πληρώσωμεν τὴν δέησιν…», προσάγεται ὁ μέλλων χειροτονεῖσθαι, καὶ γίνεται ἡ τάξις τῆς Χειροτονίας, ὡς ἀνωτέρω.

ΤΑΞΙΣ ΓΙΝΟΜΕΝΗ ΕΠΙ ΧΕΙΡΟΤΟΝΙΑ ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΥ

Ordination to the Priesthood

Μετὰ τὸ πληρωθῆναι τὸν Χερουβικὸν ὕμνον, ἵσταται ἐν τῇ Σολέα ὁ μέλλων χειροτονεῖσθαι Πρεσβύτερος καὶ έξερχόμενοι δύο Διἀκονοι λαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν ἐξ ἑκατέρου μέρους, καὶ φέρουσιν αὐτὸν ἄχρι τῶν ἁγίων θυρῶν ἐκεῖ δὲ ἀπολύουσιν αὐτὸν οἱ Διἀκονοι καὶ λαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν δύο Πρεσβύτεροι, ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ δεὐτερος. Καὶ τοῦ Ὰρχιερέως ἱσταμένου πρὸ τῆς ὡραίας Πύλης ἐκφωνεῖ ὁ πρῶτος τῶν Ἱερέων:

During the Divine Liturgy, after the completion of the Cherubic Hymn following the Great Entrance, two priests exit, and bring the deacon before the bishop. They stand on the solea, facing the bishop who stands in the Royal Doors.

Κέλευσον.

Command.

Κελεύσατε.

All Command.

Κέλευσον, Δέσποτα ἅγιε, τὸν νῦν προσφερόμενόν σοι.

Command, holy Master, the one who is now being presented to you.

Καὶ πάλιν ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς ὑποδέχεται αὐτὸν καὶ σφραγίζων τρὶς τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, λέγει:

They bring the candidate to the bishop, who makes the sign of the cross three times over his head, saying:

Καὶ εἰσάγουσιν αὐτὸν οἱ Πρεσβύτεροι εἰς τὸ Θυσιαστήριον καὶ κυκλοῦσι τρὶς τὴν ἁγίαν Τράπεζαν ἀπὸ τῶν δεξιῶν πρὸς τὰ ἀριστερά, ψάλλοντες τά « Ἅγιοι Μάρτυρες…, Δόξα σοι Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός…», καὶ τὸ « Ἡσαἶα χόρευε…»

The deacon addresses the bishop, then the bishop counsels the deacon. Afterwards, the deacon is brought into the sanctuary, and led by the priests, circles the altar three times while the clergy sing:

Ἦχος βαρύς.

Grave Mode.

O holy Martyr Saints, who competed well and received the crowns of laurel, intercede with the Lord for us, that His mercy come upon our souls.

Ἦχος βαρύς.

Grave Mode.

Δόξα σοι Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, Ἀποστόλων καύχημα, Μαρτύρων ἀγαλλίαμα, ὧν τὸ κήρυγμα, Τριὰς ἡ ὁμοούσιος.

Glory be to You, Christ our God, the Apostles’ pride and joy, exultation of the Martyr Saints, whose proclamation was the consubstantial Trinity.

Ἦχος πλ. αʹ.

Mode pl. 1.

Ἰστέον δὲ ὅτι, ὅταν ψάλλωνται τὰ ἀνωτέρω, κάθηται ἔμπροσθεν τῆς ἁγίας Τραπέζης ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς εἰς θρονίον, καὶ ἐκεῖ ὅπου κυκλοῦσι γύρωθεν, ἀσπάζεται ὁ χειροτονούμενος τὰ τέσσαρα κέρατα τῆς ἁγίας Τραπἐζης καί ὅταν ἔρχωνται ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Ἀρχιερέως, ποιοῦσι μετάνοιαν καὶ ὁ χειροτονούμενος ἀσπάζεται τὴν χεῖρα καὶ τὸ ἐπιγονάτιον αὐτοῦ. Μετὰ δὲ τὴν τρίτην περιφορὰν τὰς ἁγίας εἰκονας κατὰ τάξιν.

Εἶτα ἀνισταμένου τοῦ Ἀρχιερέως, προσέρχεται αύτῷ ὁ χειροτονούμενος καὶ ἵσταται κατὰ τὸ δεξιὸν μέρος αὐτοῦ καὶ θέτει τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τῆς ἁγίας Τραπέζης σταυροειδῶς καὶ ἐρείσας τὸ μέτωπον τῇ ἁγία Τραπέζη, κλίνει ἀμφότερα τὰ γόνατα. Καὶ ἐκφωνεῖ ὁ Ἀρχιδιάκονος:

Ὁ δὲ Ἀρχιερεὺς θέτει τὸ ἄκρον τοῦ ὠμοφορίου ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ χειροτονουμένου καὶ ἐπιθέτων τὴν δεξιὰν ἐκφωνεῖ εἰς ἐπήκοον πάντων:

The bishop places his hand on the head of the deacon and says for everyone to hear:

Ἡ Θεία Χάρις, ἡ πάντοτε τὰ ἀσθενῆ θεραπεύουσα καὶ τὰ ἐλλείποντα ἀναπληροῦσα, προχειρίζεται (δεῖνα) τὸν εὐλαβέστατον Διάκονον εἰς Πρεσβύτερον. Εὐξώμεθαοὖν ὑπερ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ἔλθῃ ἐπʼ αὐτον ἡ χάρις τοῦ Παναγίου Πνεύματος.

Καὶ ψάλλεται παρατεταμένως καὶ ἴσον τῷ ἀκούεσθαι τὸ Κύριε ἐλέησον (γʹ) παρὰ τῶν ἐν τῷ Βἠματι καὶ παρὰ τῶν ἐκτός.

“Lord have mercy” (3) is sung in a long melody just loud enough to be heard by those inside and outside the altar.

Ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς ἔχων τὴν χεῖρα ἐπικειμένην, εὔχεται οὕτω χαμηλοφώνως.

Ο Θεὸς ὁ ἄναρχος καὶ ἀτελεύτητος, ὁ πάσης κτίσεως πρεσβύτατος ὑπάρχων, ὁ τῇ προσηγορία τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου τιμήσας τοὺς ἐν τῷ βαθμῶ τούτῳ ἀξιωθέντας ἱερουργεῖν τὸν λόγον τὴς ἀληθείας Αὐτός, Δέσποτα τῶν ἁπάντων, καὶ τοῦτον, ὃν εὐδόκησαν ὑποδέξασθαι τὴν μεγάλην ταύτην χάριν τοῦ Ἁγιου σου Πνεύματος, καὶ τέλειον ἀνάδειξον δοῦλόν σου ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρεστοῦντα σοι, καὶ ἀξίως πολιτευόμενον τῆς δωρηθείσης αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τῆς σῆς προγνωστικῆς δυνάμεως, μεγάλης ταύτῆς ἱερατικης τιμῆς. «Ὅτι σὸν τὸ κράτος, καὶ σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα, τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

O God without beginning or end, Who are before every created thing, and Who honors with the title of Presbyter those whom You deem worthy to serve the word of Your truth in the divine ministry of this order: You, the same sovereign Master, preserve in purity of life and in unswerving faith this man whom You have been pleased to ordain through me by the laying on of hands, graciously imparting to him the great grace of Your Holy Spirit, making him wholly Your servant, well-pleasing to You in all things, and worthily exercising this great honor of the Priesthood which You conferred upon him by the power of Your wisdom. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Καὶ μετὰ τὴν Εὐχὴν ταύτην λέγει ὁ Πρωτοπαπᾶς λεπτῇ τῇ φωνῆ, ὅσον ἀκούειν τοὺς συμπαρόντας καὶ ἀποκρίνεσθαι τὸ « Κύριε ἐλέησον», τὰ διακονικὰ ταῦτα:

The senior priest recites the following petitions in a low voice while the clergy in the Holy of Holies slowly respond, “Lord, have mercy.”

For our our Archbishop (name), for his priesthood, sustenance, sojourn, peace, health, salvation, and for the works of his hands, let us pray to the Lord.

Ὑπὲρ τοῦ δούλου τοῦ Θεοῦ (δεῖνος), τοῦ νυνὶ προχειριζομένου Πρεσβυτέρου, καὶ τῆς σωτηρίας αὐτῶ, τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

For the servant of God (name), who has now been ordained a presbyter, and for his salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Ὅπως ὁ φιλάνθρωπος Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἄσπιλον καὶ ἀμώμητον αὐτῷ τὴν ἱερωσύνην χαρίσηται, τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

That our benevolent God will grant to him a pure and blameless priesthood, let us pray to the Lord.

Ὁ δὲ Ἀρχιερεύς, ἔχων τὴν χεἰρα ἐπικειμένην τῇ τοῦ χειροτονουμένου κεφαλῆ καὶ τοῦ Διακόνου εἰπόντος: Τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν· καὶ πάντων ἀποκριθέντων τὸ «Κύριε ἐλέησον», ἐπτεύχεται καὶ αὖθις οὕτως.

While the Senior Priest intones the petitions, the Hierarch reads the following prayer with his hand still on the new presbyter’s head:

Ὸ Θεός, ὸ μέγας ἐν δυνάμει, καὶ ἀνεξιχνίαστος ἐν συνέσει, ὁ θαυμαστὸς ἐν βουλαῖς, ὑπὲρ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρὠπων. Αὐτός, Κύριε, καὶ τοῦτον, ὃν εὐδόκησας τὸν τοῦ Πρεσβυτέρου ὑπεισελθεῖν βαθμόν, πλήρωσον τῆς τοῦ Ἁγίου σου Πνεύματος δωρεᾶς ἵνα γένηται ἄξιος παρεστάναι ἀμέμπτως τῷ Θυσιαστηρίῳ σου, κηρύσσειν τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας σου, ἱερουργεῖν τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας σου, προσεφέρειν σοι δῶρα καὶ θυσίας πνευματικάς, ἀνακαινίζειν τὸν λαόν σου δία τῆς τοῦ λουτροῦ παλιγγενεσίας ὅπως καὶ αὐτός, ὑπαντήσας ἐν τῇ Δευτέρα ἐπιδημία τοῦ μεγάλου Θεοῦ, καὶ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τοῦ μονογενοῦς σου Υἱοῦ, δέξηται τὸν μισθὸν τῆς ἀγαθῆς οἰκονομίας τοῦ οἰκείου Τάγματος, ἐν τῷ πλήθει τῆς ἀγαθότητός σου. Ὅτι ηὐλόγηται καὶ δεδόξασται τὸ πάντιμον καὶ μεγαλοπρεπὲς ὄνομά σου, τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

O God, great in might and inscrutable in wisdom, marvelous in counsel above the sons of men: You the same Lord, fill with the gift of Your Holy Spirit this man whom it has pleased You to advance to the degree of Priest; that he may become worthy to stand in innocence before Your altar, to proclaim the Gospel of Your kingdom, to minister the word of Your truth, to offer to You spiritual gifts and sacrifices; to renew Your people through the font of regeneration, that when he shall go to meet You, at the second coming of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Your only-begotten Son, he may receive the reward of good stewardship in the order given to him, through the plenitude of Your goodness. For blessed and glorified is Your all-holy and majestic name, of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Μετὰ τὸ Ἀμήν, ἀνίστησιν αὐτόν, καὶ φέρει τὸ ὄπισθεν τοῦ Ὀραρίου αὐτοῦ τὸ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ δεξιοῦ μέρους (ἤ περιτίθησιν αύτῷ Ἐπιτραχήλιον) λέγων «Ἄξιος» Καὶ ψάλλουσι τοῦτο οἱ τοῦ Βήματος τρίς. Εἶτα περιτίθησιν αὐτῷ τὴν ζώνην, λέγων «Ἄξιος» Καὶ ψάλλουσιν αὐτὸ τρὶς οἱ Ψάλται τοῦ αʹχοροῦ. Καὶ ἐνδύων αὐτὸν τὸ Φελόνιον, ἐκφωνεῖ καὶ αὖθις τό, «Ἄξιος» Καὶ ψάλλουσιν αὐτὸ τρὶς οἱ Ψάλται τοῦ βʹχοροῦ.

Everyone stands. The bishop proclaims the newly-ordained priest “Axios!” (“Worthy!”) to which the congregation responds, “Axios!” The bishop will hold up each item of the Priest''s vestments and again proclaim “Axios!” each time to which the congregation also responds “Axios!” and vests the new priest.

[Εἶτα στρέφων ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς τὸν χειροτονηθέντα κατενώπιον τοῦ Λαοῦ, λέγει ἐκφώνως, «Αὕτη ἡ ἀλλοίωσις τῆς δεξιᾶς τοῦ Ὑψίστου». Καὶ ψάλλεται τρίς, ἅπαξ παρὰ τῶν ἐν τῶν Βήματι καὶ παρ’ ἑκατέρου τῶν Χορῶν «Τίς Θεὸς μέγας ὡς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν; Σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεός, ὁ θαυμάσια μόνος».

[Then the Hierarch turns the new Priest to face the people and says aloud: “This change is by the right hand of the Most High.” Then the Great Prokeimenon is sung three times, first by the clergy then by the choirs: “Who is so great a God….”]

Καὶ δίδωσιν αὐτῷ ἀγάπην, ἤτοι ἀσπάζεται αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ μέτωπον, ὁ δὲ χειροτονούμενος ἀσπάζεται τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Ἀρχιερέως καὶ άπερχόμενος ἵσταται εἰς τὸ δεξιὸν μέρος τῆς ἁγίας Τραπέζης μετὰ τῶν λοιπῶν Πρεσβυτέρων, ἀναγινώσκων τὰς εὐχάς. Εἶθʼ οὕτως συνεχίζεται ἡ θεία Λειτουργία.

The Hierarch expresses his love, i.e. he kisses the forehead of the newly-ordained priest, who kisses the hierarch''s hand goes to stand on the right side of the holy table with the other priests, reading the prayers. The Divine Liturgy continues.

Εἶθʼ οὕτως συνεχίζεται ἡ θεία Λειτουργία.

The Divine Liturgy continues.

Λάβε τὴν παρακαταθήκην ταύτην, καὶ φύλαξον αὐτήν, ἕως τῆς δευτέρας παρουσίας τοῦ Κυρίου ἡνῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅτε παρ’ αὐτοῦ μέλλεις ἀπαιτεῖσθαι αὐτήν.

Receive this Divine Trust, and guard it until the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, at which time He will demand It from you.

Ὅταν δὲ τελειωθῶσι τὰ Ἅγια, καὶ μέλλη εἰπεῖν τὸ: Ἐξαιρέτως… προσέρχεται ὁ χειροτονηθείς, καὶ ἐπιδίδωσιν αύτῷ ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς τὸν ἅγιον Ἄρτον λέγων οὕτω·

After the consecration of the Eucharist, the bishop places the body of Christ into the new priest''s hands with the following admonition:

Ὁ δὲ λαβών, ἀσπάζεται τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Ἀρχιερέως, καὶ μεθίσταται ἐν ὦ πρότερον ἵστατο τόπω, τὰς μὲν χεῖρας θεὶς ἐπάνω τῆς ἁγίας Τραπέζης, καθ’ἑαυτὸν δὲ λέγων τὸ «Κύριε ἐλέησον», καὶ τὸ «Ἐλέησον με ὁ Θεός…»

Τάξις Γινομένη ἐπὶ Χειροτονίᾳ Ἐπισκόπου

Ordination to the Episcopate

Ἀρχομένης τῆς Δοξολογίας, ὁ προεξάρχων Ἀρχιερεύς, οἱ λοιποί Ἀρχιερεῖς καί ὁ Κλῆρος ἐξέρχονται τοῦ Ἱ. Βήματος, λαμβάνοντες τάς οἰκείας αὐτῶν θέσεις ἐν τῷ σωλέᾳ, ὁ δέ Ἐψηφισμένος παραμένει ἐν τῷ Ἱ. Βήματι.

When the Doxology begins, the clergy, the celebrating Hierarchs and finally the Archbishop, surrounded by his two Deacons, exit the Altar from the Royal Gates and assume their appointed positions on the Soleas. The Bishop-Elect remains inside the Altar.

Ἀρχιερεῖς, ἐξέλθετε.

Hierarchs, come forward.

Οὗτοι δὲ ἐξερχόμενοι, ἵστανται κατὰ τὴν τάξιν αὐτῶν ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, πλησίον τοῦ α΄ Ἀρχιερέως. Τοῦ δὲ ἐψηφισμένου ἐν τῷ Βήματι ὄντος, καὶ τοῦ Ἀετοῦ προετοιμασθέντος, καὶ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἁγίων Πυλῶν τεθέντος, εἰσέρχονται δύο Διάκονοι διὰ τῆς μέσης Πύλης, ποιοῦντες μετάνοιαν, καὶ ἐξάγοντες τὸν Ὑποψήφιον, τὸ Ἱερὸν Εὐαγγέλιον ἐν ταῖς χερσὶ κρατοῦντα, αὐτὸν μὲν ἱστῶσιν ἐπάνω τοῦ Ἀετοῦ, τῶν δὲ Διακόνων τὸ «Πρόσχωμεν» ἐκφωνούντων, ὁ Ὑποψήφιος ἀνοίγων τὸ ἱερὸν Εὐαγγέλιον, λέγει, ἀπὸ χειρογράφου, μεγάλη τῇ φωνῇ.

Ὁ (δεῖνα), ἐλέῳ Θεοῦ Ἐψηφισμένος τῆς ἁγιωτάτης Ἐπισκοπῆς (τῆς δεῖνος), οἰκείᾳ χειρὶ προέταξα.

I, (name), by the mercy of God Bishop-Elect of (name of diocese), duly declare by the signing with my own hand that:

Πιστεύω εἰς ἕνα Θεόν, Πατέρα, Παντοκράτορα, ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, ὁρατῶν τε πάντων καὶ ἀοράτων. Καὶ εἰς ἕνα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ, τὸν ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς γεννηθέντα πρὸ πάντων τῶν αἰώνων· φῶς ἐκ φωτός, Θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ Θεοῦ ἀληθινοῦ, γεννηθέντα οὐ ποιηθέντα, ὁμοούσιον τῷ Πατρί, δι’ οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο. Τὸν δι’ ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν καὶ σαρκωθέντα ἐκ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς Παρθένου καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα. Σταυρωθέντα τε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου, καὶ παθόντα καὶ ταφέντα. Καὶ ἀναστάντα τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρα κατὰ τὰς Γραφάς. Καὶ ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ καθεζόμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Πατρός. Καὶ πάλιν ἐρχόμενον μετὰ δόξης κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς, οὗ τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἔσται τέλος. Καὶ εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον, τὸ Κύριον, τὸ ζωοποιόν, τὸ ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον, τὸ σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ συμπροσκυνούμενον καὶ συνδοξαζόμενον, τὸ λαλῆσαν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν. Εἰς μίαν, Ἁγίαν, Καθολικὴν καὶ Ἀποστολικὴν Ἐκκλησίαν. Ὁμολογῶ ἓν βάπτισμα εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Προσδοκῶ ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν. Καὶ ζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος. Ἀμήν.

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator 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 the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

Ἐπὶ δὲ τούτοις, στέργω καὶ ἀποδέχομαι τὰς Ἁγίας καὶ Οἰκουμενικὰς Ἑπτὰ Συνόδους, αἵτινες ἐπὶ φυλακῇ τῶν ὀρθῶν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας δογμάτων συνηθροίσθησαν, καθομολογῶν τοὺς ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν διωρισμένους στέργειν καὶ φυλάττειν Κανόνας καὶ τὰς Ἁγίας Διατάξεις, ὅσαι τοῖς ἱεροῖς Πατρᾶσι κατὰ διαφόρους καιροὺς καὶ τόπους διετυπώθησαν, πάντας οὓς ἀποδέχονται συναποδεχόμενος καὶ οὓς ἀποστρέφονται συναποστρεφόμενος.

In this, my confession of faith, I will accept and cherish the Seven Holy Ecumenical Councils, which convened in order to protect and uphold the true dogmas of the Church, promising to cherish and safeguard the canons and holy decrees defined by them as they were formulated at different times and places by the Holy Fathers. All the Canons they have accepted, so do I accept; and all the Canons they have rejected, so do I reject.

Προσέτι δὲ καὶ τὴν ἐκκλησιαστικὴν εἰρήνην ὁμολογῶ φυλάττειν καὶ κατ᾿ οὐδένα τρόπον φρονεῖν αὐτῇ ἐναντία διὰ βίου παντός, ἑπόμενος κατὰ πάντα καὶ ὑποτασσόμενος τῷ Παναγιωτάτῳ Αὐθέντῃ καὶ Δεσπότῃ μου, τῷ Οἰκουμενικῷ Πατριάρχῃ κυρίῳ κυρίῳ (δείνῳ) καὶ τῷ ἐμῷ Σεβασμιωτάτῳ Ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ Ἀμερικῆς κυρίῳ (δείνῳ), Προέδρῳ τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἐπαρχιακῆς Συνόδου, προσεπαγγελόμενός τε ἐν φόβῳ Θεοῦ καὶ θεοφιλεῖ γνώμῃ ἀπὸ πάσης ὑπολήψεως πονηρᾶς καθαρὸν διατηρεῖν ἐμαυτόν, ὁπόση μοι περίεστι δύναμις.

I promise also to preserve the peace of the Church, and not to devise anything whatsoever which is contrary to it all the days of my life; and I will follow everything in fullness and obey His All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch (name), and my Archbishop, His Eminence (name) of America, President of the Holy Eparchial Synod. Furthermore, in the fear of God, I promise with a God-loving mind, to maintain myself to the best of my ability, unsullied by any evil intentions.

Πρὸς τούτοις ὁμολογῶ καὶ ἅπερ κέκτηται προνόμια ὁ Ἀποστολικὸς Πατριαρχικὸς καὶ Οἰκουμενικὸς Θρόνος φυλάττειν ἀπαράβατα καὶ ἀπαρασάλευτα ἕως ἐσχάτης μου ἀναπνοῆς.

I do also hereby promise that I will uphold as inviolate and irrefutable whatever rights and privileges belong to the Apostolic, Patriarchal and Ecumenical Throne, until my last breath.

Πιστεύω εἰς ἕνα Θεόν, ἐν τρισὶ Προσώποις μεριζόμενον, Πατέρα φημί, καὶ Υἱόν, καὶ Ἁγιον Πνεῦμα· μεριζόμενον λέγω, κατὰ τὸν τῆς ἰδιότητος λόγον· ἀμέριστον δέ, κατὰ τήν οὐσίαν, καὶ ὅλη Τριὰς ἡ αὐτή, καὶ ὅλη Μονὰς ἡ αὐτή. Μονάς, κατὰ τὴν οὐσίαν, καὶ φύσιν, καὶ ἄναρχος· οὐ γὰρ ἐστιν αὐτοῦ τι πρεσβύτερονʹ ἦν γὰρ ἐκεῖνος, καὶ πάντως ἦν Θεός· ἄναρχος δέ, ὅτι μὴ ἔκτινος ἔχει τὸ εἶναι, ἤ ἐξ ἑαυτοῦ. Πιστεύω δέ, ὅτι ὁ Πατὴρ αἰτία ἐστὶν Υἱοῦ, καὶ Πνεύματος· τοῦ μὲν Υἱοῦ, γεννητῶς, τοῦ δὲ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, ἐκπορευτῶς· μηδεμιᾶς διαστάσεως μηδὲ ἀλλοτριώσεως, ἐν τούτοις θεωρουμένης, ἤ μόνον τῆς διαφορᾶς τῶν ὑποστατικῶν ἰδιωμάτων· ὅτι ὁ μὲν Πατὴρ γεννᾶ τὸν Υἱόν, καὶ προβάλλει τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον· ἐπιγινώσκω, τὸν Πατέρα, Υἱοῦ, καὶ Πνεύματος· λέγω δὲ τὸν Υἱόν, ἀρχὴν ὑπέρχρονον καὶ ἀόριστον·οὐχ’ ὡς ἀρχὴν τῶν κτισμάτων, οἱονεὶ πρωτόκτιστον ὄντα, ἵνα μὴ παραδεχθῶσι δύω ἀρχαὶ· μετὰ τῆς ἀρχῆς δὲ ἐπὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον· ἐπειδὴ καὶ ἄμα καὶ ὁμοῦ τὸ εἶναι ἔχουσιν ἐκ Πατρός, ὅ τε Υἱὸς καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον· ὁ μὲν γεννητῶς, τὸ δὲ ἐκπορευτῶς, ὡς εἴρηται. Καὶ οὔθ’ ὁ Πατὴρ διῄρηται τοῦ Υἱοῦ, οὔθ’ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Πνεύματος, οὔτε τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον, Πατρὸς καὶ Υἱοῦ ἀλλ᾽ ὅλος ἐστὶν ὁ Πατὴρ ἐν τῷ Υἱῷ, καὶ τῷ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, καὶ ὅλος ὁ Υἱὸς ἐν τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Ἁγίῳ Πνεὐματι, καὶ ὅλον τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον ἐν τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Υἱῷ· ἥνωνται γὰρ διῃρημένως, καὶ διῄρηνται ἡνωμένως. Ὁμολογῶ δὲ, ὅτι ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Λόγος συναΐδιος τῷ Πατρί, ὁ ὑπέρχρονος, ὁ ἀπερίληπτος, ὁ ἀπεριόριστος, κάτεισι μέχρι τῆς φύσεως, καὶ παρθενικῶν αἱμάτων τῆς μόνης παναμώμου καὶ καθαρᾶς Παρθένου· ἵνα ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν σωτηρίαν καὶ χάριν, ἕνεκα τῆς ἰδίας εὐσπλαγχνίας χαρίσηται· καὶ γέγονεν ἡ καθ’ ὑπόστασιν τῶν φύσεων ἕνωσις, οὐ ταῖς κατὰ μικρὸν προσθήκας τελειουμένου τοῦ βρέφους, οὐδὲ κατὰ φυρμόν, ἤ σύγχυσιν, ἤ ἀνάκρασιν, ἑνωθεισῶν τῶν συνεληλυθυιῶν φύσεων· οὐδὲ ἄνουν καὶ ἄψυχον, κατᾶ τὸν θεοστυγῆ καὶ Ἰουδαιόφρονα Νεστόριον οὐδὲ ἄνουν καῖ ἄψυχον, κατὰ τὸν ἄνουν ὄντως Ἀπολλινάριον· ἐκεῖνος γὰρ ἐλήρει ἀρκεῖν τὴν Θεότητα, ἀντὶ τοῦ νοός· ἐγὼ δὲ Θεόν τέλειον αὐτὸν ὁμολογῶ, καὶ τέλειον Ἄνθρωπον τὸν αὐτόν· ὅς ἅμα σὰρξ καὶ ἅμα Θεοῦ Λόγος· σὰρξ ἔμψυχος λογικῇ τε καὶ νοερᾷ ψυχῇ, σώζοντά τε πάντα τὰ τῆς αὑτοῦ Θεότητος φυσικὰ αὐχήματα καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἕνωσιν, καὶ μὴ τραπέντα τὰ τῆς Θεὀτητος αὑτοῦ, ἤ τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος, διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸν Λόγον ἀκραιφνεστάτην συνάφειαν, φέροντα τὸν αὐτὸν μίαν ὑπόστασιν σύνθετον, δύο τὰς φύσεις καὶ ἐνεργείας, σώζουσαν τὰ ἐξ ὦν, καὶ ἐν οἶς ἦν ὁ αὐτὸς εἶς Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν· ἔχοντά τε δύο θελήσεις φυσικάς, οὐ γνωμικάς. Ἰστέον δέ, ὡς ἔπαθε μέν, ὡς Θεὸς, λέγω σαρκί· Θεότητα παθητήν, ἤ παθοῦσαν σαρκί, οὐδαμῶς. Ἔτι ὁμολογῶ αὐτὸν ἀναλαβεῖν πάντα τὰ ἡμέτερα ἀδιάβλητα πάθη. Τὰ συνόντα τῇ φύσει ἡμῶν δίχα τῆς ἁμαρτίας, οἶον τὴν πεῖναν, τὴν δίψαν, τὸν κόπον, τὰ δάκρυα, καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα, ἐνεργοῦντα δὲ έν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἠναγκασμένως, ὥσπερ καὶ ἐν ἡμῖν, ἀλλὰ τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης θελήσεως ἀκολουθούσης τῇ θείᾳ αὐτοῦ θελήσει· θέλων γὰρ ἐπείνασε, θέλων ἐδίψησε, θέλων ἐκοπίασε, θέλων ἀπέθανε. Θνήσκει τοίνυν, τὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἀπεκδεχόμενος θάνατον, ἀπαθοῦς μενούσης τῆς αὐτοῦ Θεότητος· αὐτὸς γὰρ οὐχ ὑπέκειτο θανάτῳ, ὁ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αἴρων τοῦ κόσμου, ἀλλ’ ἵνα πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐξάξη τῆς παμφάγου χειρὸς τοῦ θανάτου, καὶ τῷ οἰκείῳ αὐτοῦ Αἵματι προσάξῃ τῷ οἰκείῳ Πατρί, καὶ σώματι προσβαλὼν ὁ θάνατος ἀνθρωπίνω, δυνάμει Θεότητος καταρράσσεται, καὶ ἀνάγονται ἐκεῖθειν αἱ ἀπ᾽ αἰῶνος τῶν δικαίων πεπεδημέναι ψυχαί. Μετὰ δὲ τὸ ἀναστῆναι αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν, τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας ἐν τῇ γῇ μετὰ τῶν Μαθητῶν ἐπιφαινόμενος, ἀνελήφθη εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ τοῦ Πατρός· δεξιὰν δὲ τοῦ Πατρὸς λέγω, οὐ τοπικήν, ἤ περιγραπτήν· ἀλλὰ λέγω δεξιὰν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἶναι, τὴν ἄναρχον καὶ ἐνανθρώπησιν ταύτην ἔσχηκε συμπροσκυνεῖται γὰρ ἡ ἁγία αὐτοῦ Σὰρξ τῇ αὐτοῦ Θεότητι τιμίᾳ προσκυνήσει, οὐ προσθήκην δεξαμένης τῆς ἁγίας Τριάδος· μὴ γένοιτο! Τριὰς γὰρ ἔμεινεν ἡ Τριὰς καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἕνωσιν τοῦ Μονογενοῦς, ἀχωρίστου μεινάσης τῆς ἁγίας αὐτοῦ Σαρκός, καὶ ἔτι μετ’ αὐτοῦ μενούσης καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· μετ’ αὐτῆς γὰρ ἐλεύσεται κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς, δικαίους τε, καὶ ἁμαρτωλούς· καὶ τοῖς μὲν δικαίοις, ἀποδώσων τὰ ἔργα τῆς ἀρετῆς, καὶ τὴν Βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἀνθ’ ὦν ἐνταῦθα ἐκοπίασαν· τοῖς δὲ ἁμαρτωλοῖς, αἰώνιον ἀνταμειψόμενος βάσανον, καὶ τὸ τῆς γεέννης ἀτελεύτητον πῦρ· οὗ γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς τὴν πεῖραν ἐκφυγεῖν, καὶ τῶν ἐπηγγελμένων καὶ ἀκηράτων ἐπιτυχεῖν ἀγαθῶν, ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν. Ἀμήν.

[detailed confession of faith]

Πιστεύω εἰς ἕνα Θεόν, Πατέρα παντοκράτορα, ποιητήν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, ὁρατῶν τε πάντων καὶ ἀοράτων· ἄναρχον μέν, καὶ ἀγέννητον, καὶ ἀναίτιον ἀρχὴν δὲ φυσικήν, καὶ αἰτίαν Υἱοῦ, καὶ Πνεύματος. Πιστεύω καὶ εἰς τὸν μονογενῆ αὐτοῦ Υἱόν, ἀῤῥεύστως, καὶ ἀχρόνως ἐξ αὐτοῦ γεννηθέντα, ὁμοούσιον αὐτῷ, δι’ οὖ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο. Πιστεύω καὶ εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον τὸ ἐξ αὐτοῦ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον, και συνδοξαζόμενον, ὡς συναῒδιον, καὶ σύνθρονον, καὶ ὁμοούσιον, καὶ ὁμόδοξον, καὶ τῆς κτίσεως δημιουργόν. Πιστεύω τὸν ἕνα τῆς αὐτῆς ὑπερουσίου, καὶ ζωαρχικῆς Τριάδος, τὸν μονογενῆ Λόγον, κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν δι’ ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμῶν σωτηρίαν, σακρωθῆναι ἐκ Πνεύματος ἁγίου, καἰ Μαρίας τῆς Παρθένου ἐνανθρωπῆσαι, τουτέστι τέλειον ἄνθρωπον γενέσθαι, μένοντα Θεόν, καὶ μηδὲν μεταβαλόντα τῆς θείας οὐσίας, διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὴν σάρκα κοινωνίαν, ἤ ἀλλοιώσαντα· ἀλλ’ ἄνευ τροπῆς προσειληφότα τὸν ἄνθρωτον, ἐν αὐτῷ τὸ πάθος καὶ τὸν σταυρὸν ὑπομεῖναι, παντὸς πάθους, κατὰ τὴν θείαν φύσιν, ἐλεύθερον καὶ ἀναστῆναι τῇ Τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν· καὶ εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς ἀνεληλυθότα, ἐκ δεξιῶν καθίσαι τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρός. Πιστεύω καὶ περὶ Θεοῦ, καὶ τῶν Θείων παραδόσεις τε καὶ ἐξηγήσεις τῆς μιᾶς Καθολικῆς καὶ Ἀποστολικῆς Ἐκκλησίας. Ὁμολογῶ ἕν βάπτισμα εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν, Προσδοκῶ ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν, Καὶ ζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος. Ἔτι δὲ τοῦ ἐνανθρωπήσαντος Λόγου μίαν ὑπόστασιν ὁμολογῶ· καὶ ἕνα πιστεύω τὸν αὐτόν, καὶ φύσεσι, τὰ ἐν οἷς, καὶ ἐξ ὧν πέφυκε σώζοντα· ἀκολούθως δὲ καὶ δύο θελήματα πρεσβεύω, τῆς ἑκάστης φύσεως τὸ ἴδιον θέλημα, καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν σωζούσης ἐνέργειαν. Προσκυνητής εἰμι σχετικῶς, ἀλλ’ αὐ λατρευτικῶς τῶν θείων καὶ σεπτῶν Εἰκόνων, αὐτοῦ τε τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ τῆς πανάγνου Θεομήτορος, καὶ πάντων τῶν Ἁγίων καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ πρωτότυπα τὴν πρὸς ταύτας διαβιβάζω τιμήν· τοὺς δὲ ἄλλως, ἤ οὕτω φρονοῦντας, ὡς ἀλλοτρίοφρονας ἀποβάλλομαι. Ἀναθεματίζω Ἄρειον, καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ σύμφρονας καὶ κοινωνοὺς τῆς αὐτοῦ μανιώδους κακοδοξίας· Μακεδόνιον καὶ τοὺς περὶ αὐτόν, καλῶς ὀνομασθέντας Πνευματομάχους, ὡσαύτως Νεστόριον καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς αἱρεσιάρχας, καὶ τοὺς τούτον ὁμόφρονας ἀποβάλλομαι, καὶ ἀναθεματίζω. Καὶ τρανῶς ἀνακηρύττω μεγίστῃ φωνῇ Πᾶσι τοῖς αἱρετικοῖς ἀνάθεμα· Ὅλοις τοῖς αἱρετικοῖς ἀνάθεμα. Τὴν δὲ Δέσποιναν ἡμῶν, τὴν Θεοτόκον Μαρίαν, κυρίως καὶ ἀληθῶς ὁμολογῶ καὶ κηρύττω ὡς τεκοῦσαν σαρκὶ τὸν ἕνα τῆς Τριάδος, Χριστὸν τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, ἥτις γενείη μοι βοηθός, σκέπη, καὶ ἀντίληψις πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς μου. Ἀμήν.

[detailed confession of faith]

Ὁ (δεῖνα), ἐλέῳ Θεοῦ Ἐψηφισμένος τῆς ἁγιωτάτης Ἐπισκοπῆς (τῆς δεῖνος), οἰκείᾳ χειρὶ ὑπέταξα.

I, (name), by the mercy of God Bishop-Elect of (name of diocese), humbly submit this, my confession of faith, signed by my own hand.

Ἀκολούθως εἷς Ἱερεὺς λαμβάνει παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὸ Ἱερὸν Εὐαγγέλιον καὶ θέτει αὐτὸ ἐπὶ τῆς Ἁγίας Τραπέζης, οἱ δὲ Διάκονοι παραλαμβάνουσι τὸν ἐψηφισμένον καὶ φέρουσιν αὐτὸν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Ἀρχιεπισκόπου λέγοντες τό·

Following that, one Priest receives the Gospel from the Bishop-Elect and places it on the Holy Altar Table. The two Deacons lead the Bishop-Elect from the Royal Gates to the Archbishop exclaiming:

Η χάρις τοῦ παναγίου καὶ ζωοποιοῦ Πνεύματος, διὰ τῆς ἡμῶν ταπεινότητος, προχειρίζεταί σε Ἐπίσκοπον τῆς πάλαι ποτέ διαλαμψάσης ἁγιωτάτης Ἐπισκοπῆς (τῆς δεῖνος).

The grace of the All-Holy and Life-creating Spirit, through my humble person, proposes you to be the (episcopal rank and diocese).

Οἱ δὲ χοροὶ ψάλλουσι τό· «Εἰς πολλὰ ἔτη, Δέσποτα» ἐν ὅσῳ ἀσπάσηται ὁ μὲν Ἐψηφισμένος τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Ἀρχιεπισκόπου καὶ τῶν συγχειροτονούντων Ἀρχιερέων, οἱ δὲ Ἀρχιερεῖς τοῦτον ἐν τῷ μετώπῳ καὶ τοῖς ὤμοις.

The Choir then begins to chant “Many years,” while the Bishop-Elect kisses the hand of the Archbishop and in turn by ranking, the hands of all the concelebrating Hierarchs. As he kisses their hands, the Hierarchs kiss the forehead and shoulders of the Bishop-Elect.

Ἐν συνεχείᾳ, οἱ ἀνωτέρω Διάκονοι, ἐπαναφέρουσι καὶ αὖθις τὸν ἐψηφισμένον ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἀετοῦ. Οἱ δύο δὲ πρῶτοι Πρεσβύτεροι ποιοῦσι σχῆμα τῷ Ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ καὶ προσέρχονται τῷ Ἐψηφισμένῳ ἱστάμενοι ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν αὐτοῦ, λαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ φέρουσι τῷ Ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ λέγοντες τό:

When this action is completed, the Deacons return the Bishop-Elect to the Royal Gates where two senior Priests are waiting facing the Archbishop. Then the two senior ranking Priests bow to the Archbishop and lead the Bishop-Elect before the Archbishop to present him while they say:

Η χάρις τοῦ παναγίου καὶ ζωοποιοῦ Πνεύματος ἔστω μετὰ σοῦ, νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

May the grace of the all-holy and life-creating Spirit be with you, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Καὶ πάλιν ἀσπάζονται αὐτὸν οἱ τρεῖς Ἀρχιερεῖς, καὶ πρότερον. Εἶτα εἰσέρχεται ἐν τῷ Βήματι καὶ ἐνδύεται ἅπασαν τὴν ἱερατικὴν στολήν. Ἄρχονται δὲ τῆς ἱερᾶς Λειτουργίας καὶ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἐξέρχεται ἐν τῇ Εἰσόδω. Δίδονται δὲ κηρία πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν τῷ Ναῷ ἱερωμένοις τε καὶ λαϊκοῖς. Μετὰ δὲ τὸν Τρισάγιον καὶ τὰς φήμας, λαμβάνουσιν αὐτὸν δύο Ἱερεῖς παρ’ ἑκατέρα, καὶ ἀγαγόντες αὐτὸν διὰ τοῦ βορείου κλίτους, ἵστανται ἐν τῷ μέσῳ τοῦ Ναοῦ, καὶ κελεύουσιν αὐτόν, λέγοντες τὸ:

Εἶτα εἰσέρχεται ὁ ἐψηφισμένος ἐν τῷ Βήματι καὶ ἐνδύεται ἅπασαν τὴν ἱερατικὴν στολήν.

Then the Bishop-Elect enters the Altar and he vests fully as a Priest.

Ἀδείᾳ καί προτροπῇ τοῦ Παναγιωτάτου Οἰκουμενικοῦ Πατριάρχου ἡμῶν (δεῖνος), ψήφῳ καί δοκιμασίᾳ τῶν Σεβασμιωτάτων Μητροπολιτῶν, τῶν συγκροτούντων τήν Ἁγίαν καί Ἱεράν Σύνοδον.

With the permission and at the directive of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch (name), and by the vote and approval of the Most Reverend Metropolitans of the Holy and Sacred Synod:

Μετὰ δὲ τὸ Τρισάγιον καὶ τὰς φήμας παραλαμβάνουσι τὸν ἐψηφισμένον οἱ δύο πρῶτοι Πρεσβύτεροι ἱστάμενοι ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀγαγόντες αὐτὸν διὰ τῆς Βορείου Πύλης ἵστανται πρὸ τῆς Ὡραίας Πύλης καὶ κελεύουσιν αὐτόν, λέγοντες καὶ πάλιν·

After the completion of the Trisagion and the Anthems, the two senior Priests exit the Sanctuary with the Bishop-Elect onto the Soleas, leading him on each side, to present him before the consecrating Hierarch, who stands under the Royal Gates, and exclaim:

Ψήφῳ, καὶ δοκιμασίᾳ τῶν Θεοφιλεστάτων Ἐπισκόπων καὶ τῶν ὁσιωτάτων Πρεσβυτέρων.

Η θεία χάρις, ἡ πάντοτε τὰ ἀσθενῆ θεραπεύουσα, καὶ τὰ ἐλλείποντα ἀναπληροῦσα, προχειρίζεται (τὸν δεῖνα) τὸν Θεοφιλέστατον Πρεσβύτερον Ἐπίσκοπον τῆς πάλαι ποτέ διαλαμψάσης ἁγιωτάτης Ἐπισκοπῆς (τῆς δε). Εὐξώμεθα οὖν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ἔλθη ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἡ χάρις τοῦ Παναγίου Πνεύματος.

The divine grace, which ever heals what is weak and completes what is lacking, ordains (name), the most devout Presbyter, (episcopal rank and diocese). Let us, therefore, pray for him, that the grace of the All-Holy Spirit may come upon him.

Ὁ δὲ χειροτονῶν αὐτὸν Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος σφραγίζει αὐτὸν τρίς, λέγων χαμηλοφώνως τό:

And again the Archbishop receives him and sealing him with the sign of the Cross thrice on the head, says:

Εἶτα λαμβάνουσιν αὐτόν ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν οἱ δύο πρῶτοι ἐκ τῶν συγχειροτονούντων Ἀρχιερέων καὶ περιάγουσιν αὐτόν, κυκλοῦντες τρὶς τὴν Ἁγίαν Τράπεζαν, ψάλλοντες τὰ συνήθη τροπάρια τῆς χειροτονίας, ἤτοι: «Ἅγιοι Μάρτυρες», «Δόξα σοι Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός» καὶ «Ἠσαΐα χόρευε», τοῦ χειροτονουμένου ἀσπαζομένου ἐν ἑκάστῃ περιφορᾷ τὴν χεῖρα καὶ τὸ ἐπιγονάτιον τοῦ χειροτονοῦντος αὐτὸν Ἀρχιεπισκόπου, καθεζομένου ἐπὶ θρονίσκου ἔμπροσθεν ἀκριβῶς τῆς Ἁγίας Τραπέζης.

Then, the Bishop-Elect is brought into the Sanctuary by the two senior concelebrating Hierarchs and, led by them, they circle the Holy Altar Table three times while singing: “O holy Martyr Saints,” “Glory be to You, Christ our God,” and “O Isaiah, dance with joy.” After every circle the Bishop-Elect bows and venerates the right hand and the epigonation of the consecrating Archbishop, who is seated on a throne right in front of the Holy Altar Table.

Δέσποτα Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ νομοθετήσας ἡμῖν διὰ τοῦ πανευφήμου σου Ἀποστόλου Παύλου, βαθμῶν καὶ ταγμάτων τάξιν, εἰς τὸ ἐξυπηρετεῖσθαι, καὶ λειτουργεῖν τοῖς σεπτοῖς, καὶ ἀχράντοις σου Μυστηρίοις ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ σου Θυσιαστηρίῳ, πρῶτον Ἀποστόλους, δεύτερον Προφήτας, τρίτον Διδασκάλους. Αὐτός, Δέσποτα τῶν ἁπάντων, καὶ τοῦτον τὸν ψηφισθέντα, καὶ ἀξιωθέντα ὑπεισελθεῖν τὸν Εὐαγγελικὸν ζυγόν, καὶ τὴν Ἀρχιερατικὴν ἀξίαν, διὰ τῆς χειρὸς ἐμοῦ τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ, καὶ τῶν συμπαρόντων Λειτουργῶν καὶ Συνεπισκόπων, τῷ ἐπιφοιτήσει καὶ δυνάμει, καὶ χάριτι τοῦ ἁγίου σου Πνεύματος, ἐνίσχυσον, ὡς ἐνίσχυσας τοὺς ἁγίους σου Ἀποστόλους, καὶ Προφήτας· ὡς ἔχρισας τοὺς Βασιλεῖς· ὡς ἡγίασας τοὺς Ἀρχιερεῖς· καὶ ἀνεπίληπτον αὐτοῦ τὴν Ἀρχιερωσύνην ἀπόδειξον, καὶ πάση σεμνότητι κατακοσμῶν, ἅγιον ἀνάδειξον, εἰς τὸ ἄξιον γενέσθαι, τοῦ αἰτεῖν αὐτὸν τὰ πρὸς σωτηρίαν τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ἐπακούειν σε αὐτοῦ. Ὄτι ἡγίασταί σου τὸ ὄνομα καὶ δεδόξασταί σου ἡ Βασιλεία, τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

Master and Lord our God, who through Your all-praiseworthy Apostle Paul have established for us diverse orders and offices – first, Apostles, then Prophets, and thirdly, Teachers – to serve and officiate the divine celebration of Your pure and undefiled mysteries upon Your Holy Altar: grant, O Lord of all, that this man, who has been chosen and deemed worthy to be placed under the yoke of the Gospel and to enter the episcopal office by the laying on of hands by me, a sinner, and by my co-celebrant and fellow bishops here present, may be strengthened by the inspiration, power, and grace of Your Holy Spirit, as You did strengthen Your holy Apostles and Prophets, as You anointed Kings, as You consecrated Archpriests. Make his episcopacy to be blameless; adorn him with all dignity; make him holy that he may be worthy to ask for those things which are for the salvation of the people, and that You may hear his prayer. For holy is Your name and glorious is Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

Μετὰ ταῦτα προσάγεται παρὰ τῶν προειρημένων Ἀρχιερέων ὁ μέλλων χειροτονεῖσθαι ἐκ τοῦ δεξιοῦ μέρους, καὶ κλίνει ἀμφότερα τὰ γόνατα καὶ τίθησι τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς Ἁγίας Τραπέζης συνηρμοσμένας ἐπ᾿ ἀλλήλων, κλίνας μετ᾿ εὐλαβείας καὶ τὸ μέτωπον αὐτοῦ. Ὁ δὲ χειροτονῶν Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος ἐπιθεὶς ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ μέλλοντος χειροτονεῖσθαι τό τε Μέγα Ὠμοφόριον καὶ τὸ Ἱερὸν Εὐαγγέλιον ἐκφωνεῖ:

After the third circumambulation, the Bishop-Elect kneels on both knees before and places his hands one on top of the other on the Holy Altar Table, and rests his forehead on his hands. The Archbishop covers the candidate’s head first with his Omophorion and then with the Holy Gospel, opened and facing downwards. All the ordaining Hierarchs place their right hands upon the Holy Gospel as the Archbishop exclaims the prayers of Ordination.

For our our Archbishop (name), for his priesthood, sustenance, sojourn, peace, health, salvation, and for the works of his hands, let us pray to the Lord.

Ὑπὲρ τοῦ δούλου τοῦ Θεοῦ (δεῖνος), τοῦ νυνὶ προχειριζομένου Ἐπισκόπου, καὶ τῆς σωτηρίας αὐτῶ, τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

For the servant of God (name), who has now been ordained a bishop, and for his salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Ὅπως ὁ φιλάνθρωπος Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἄσπιλον καὶ ἀμώμητον αὐτῷ τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην χαρίσηται, τοῦ Κυρίου δεηθῶμεν.

That our benevolent God will grant to him a pure and blameless arch-priesthood, let us pray to the Lord.

Καὶ ψάλλεται παρατεταμένως καὶ ἴσον τῶ ἀκούεσθαι τὸ «Κύριε, ἐλέησον» (γ’) παρὰ τῶν ἐν τῶ Βήματι καὶ παρὰ τῶν ἐκτός.

During the reading of these prayers and petitions, the “Lord, have mercy” is chanted very softly, inside and outside of the Holy Altar.

Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ διὰ τὸ μὴ δύνασθαι τὴν ἀνθρώπου φύσιν τὴν τῆς Θεότητος ὑπενεγκεῖν οὐσίαν, τῇ σῇ οἰκονομίᾳ ὁμοιοπαθεῖς διδασκάλους καταστήσας, τὸν σὸν ἐπέχοντας θρόνον, εἰς τὸ ἀναφέρειν σοι θυσίαν, καὶ προσφορὰν ὑπὲρ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ σου· σύ, Χριστέ, καὶ τοῦτον τὸν ἀναδειχθέντα οἰκονόμον τῆς ἀρχιερατικῆς χάριτος, ποίησον μιμητὴν σοῦ τοῦ ἀληθινοῦ Ποιμένος, τιθέντα τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ τῶν προβάτων σου· ὁδηγὸν εἶναι τυφλῶν, φῶς τῶν ἐν σκότει, παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων, διδάσκαλον νηπίων, φωστῆρα ἐν κόσμῳ· ἵνα, καταρτίσας τὰς ψυχὰς τὰς ἐμπιστευθείσας αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς παρούσης ζωῆς, παραστῇ τῷ Βήματί σου ἀκαταισχύντως, καὶ τὸν μέγαν μισθὸν λάβῃ, ὃν ἡτοίμασας τοῖς ἀθλήσασιν ὑπὲρ τοῦ κηρύγματος τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου σου. Σὸν γάρ ἐστι τὸ ἐλεεῖν καὶ σώζειν ἡμᾶς, ὁ Θεὸς καὶ σοὶ τὴν δόξαν ἁναπέμπομεν, σὺν τῷ ἁνάρχῳ σου Πατρί, καὶ τῷ Πᾳναγίῳ καὶ ἀγαθῷ, καὶ ζωοποιῷ σου Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

O Lord, our God, in accordance with Your divine plan for us, You have appointed for our sake teachers of like nature with ourselves, because it is not possible for the nature of man to endure the Essence of the Divinity, that they may stand by Your throne and offer to You sacrifices and oblations on behalf of all Your people. Do You, O Christ our Lord, make this man, who has been proclaimed a steward of the episcopal grace, an imitator of You, the true Shepherd, who did lay down Your life for Your sheep; make him a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness, an instructor of the unwise, a teacher of children, a lamp to the world, so that when he has accomplished the work of perfecting the souls of those entrusted to him in this present life, he may stand without reproach before Your throne and receive the great reward which You have prepared for those who have courageously contended for the preaching of Your Gospel. For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us and to You do we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

Ὁ δέ χειροτονῶν Ἀρχιερεύς, ἀναγινώσκει, χαμηλῇ τῇ φωνῇ καί εἰς ἐπήκοον τῶν περιεστώτων, τάς Εὐχάς τῆς Χειροτονίας εἰς Ἐπίσκοπον. Τῶν εὐχῶν ἀναγιγνωσκομένων, ὁ πρῶτος τῶν Συγχειροτονούντων Ἀρχιερέων, χαμηλῇ τῇ φωνῇ, λέγει τά Εἰρηνικά τῆς Χειροτονίας·

The consecrating Hierarch reads the Prayers of Ordination of a bishop, in a low voice. While these prayers are being read, the senior Hierarch in order after the Archbishop recites the Peace Litany of Ordination.

Λάβε τὴν Ράβδον, ἵνα ποιμαίνης τὸ ἐμπιστευθέν, ἔστω αὐτοῖς ὑπὸ σοῦ βακτηρία, καὶ ὑποστηριγμός, τοῖς δὲ ἀπειθέσι, καὶ εὐτραπέλοις, χρῷ αὐτῇ, ράβδῳ ἐπιστυπτικῇ, ράβδῳ παιδεύσεως.

Receive this Staff to shepherd the flock of Christ entrusted to you. To the obedient let it be a help and a support. With it, lead the disobedient and the wayward to admonishment and instruction.

Καὶ μετὰ τό, «’Αμήν», λέγει εἶς τῶν συγχειροτονούντων Ἀρχιερέων λεπτῇ φωνῇ, ὅσον ἀκούειν τοὺς συνόντας Ἀρχιερεῖς, καὶ ἀποκρίνεσθαι, τὰ Διακονικὰ ταῦτα:

Καὶ τούτων λεγομένων, ὁ Ἀρχιερεὺς ἔχων ὡσαύτως τῇ τοῦ χειροτονουμένου κορυφῇ τὴν χεῖρα ἐπικειμένην, εὔχεται οὕτω μυστικῶς:

Μετά δέ τό Ἀμήν τῶν Εὐχῶν ὁ χειροτονῶν Ἀρχιερεύς αἵρει ἀπό τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῦ χειροτονηθέντος τό Ἱερόν Εὐαγγέλιον καί τό Ὠμοφόριον. Καί προβάλλων τοῖς πιστοῖς κατά σειράν τόν Ἀρχιερατικόν Σάκκον, τό Μέγα Ὠμοφόριον καί τό Ἀρχιερατικόν Ἐγκόλπιον ἀναφωνεῖ τό «Ἄξιος», τῶν χορῶν ψαλλόντων τοῦτο ἐμμελῶς τρίς.

After the conclusion of the Ordination Prayers, the consecrating Archbishop lifts the Holy Gospel and his Omophorion from the head of the newly ordained Bishop, who rises from kneeling. The Archbishop exits the Royal Gates, and presents the newly ordained Bishop to the congregation, together with his hierarchical vestments, the hierarchical Sakkos, the Great Omophorion and the hierarchical Engolpion, and with each investiture declares: “Axios!” (Worthy!), while the Choir chants the same, thrice.

ΤΑΞΙΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΓΕΝΕΣΘΑΙ ΑΡΧΙΔΙΑΚΟΝΟΝ

Αὖται αἱ χειροθεσίαι, αἱ ἔξω τοῦ Βήματος, γίνονται οὕτω.

Κέλευσον, κελεύσατε. Κέλευσον Δέσποτα ἅγιε τὸν σοὶ προσφερόμενον.

Αὖται αἱ χειροθεσίαι, αἱ ἔξω τοῦ Βήματος, γίνονται οὕτω.

Η μετριότης ἡμῶν διὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ παναγίου καὶ τελεταρχικοῦ Πνεύματος προχειρίζεταί σε Ἁρχιδιάκονον τῆς καθ’ ἡμᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μεγάλης Ἐκκλησίας. (ἥ μέγαν Οἰκονόμον ἤ ἄλλο τι).

Αὖται αἱ χειροθεσίαι, αἱ ἔξω τοῦ Βήματος, γίνονται οὕτω.

Η ταπεινότης ἡμῶν διὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ παναγίου καὶ τελεταρχικοῦ Πνεύματος προχειρίζεταί σε Ἁρχιδιάκονον τῆς καθ’ ἡμᾶς Μητροπόλεως, (ἥ Οἰκονόμον ἤ ἄλλοτι).

Αὖται αἱ χειροθεσίαι, αἱ ἔξω τοῦ Βήματος, γίνονται οὕτω.

Δέσποτα Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ τὴν Ἀρχιδιακονίαν τῷ γένει ἡμῶν τῇ ἀφάτῳ σου προμηθεία δωρησάμενος, τοῦ αὐτὴν ἐνδυσάμενος διατάττειν, καὶ διακονεῖν ἐν τοῖς ὑποβεβηκόσιν ὑπουργοῖς τῶν Θείων σου Μυστηρίων. Αὐτὸς ἔνδυσον τὴν χάριν ταύτην τῆς Ἀρχιδιακονίας τὸν παρόντα δοῦλόν σου τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν, καὶ κατακόσμησον αὐτὸν τῇ σεμνότητί σου, ἐν ἀρχῆ ἵστασθαι τῶν Διακόνων τοῦ λαοῦ σου, καὶ ὑπόδειγμα καλὸν αὐτὸν γενέσθαι τοῖς μετʼ ἔπειτα ποίησον ἐν γήρει πίονι φθάσαι καὶ δοξάζειν τὸ μεγαλοπρεπὲς ὄνομά σου, τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

ΤΑΞΙΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΓΕΝΕΣΘΑΙ ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΟΥ

Ἐπὶ δὲ ΜΕΓ. ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΟΥ, λεγέτω τὴν Εὐχὴν ταύτην μεγαλοφώνως:

Κὐριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ὁ πάντα σοφῶς οἰκονομῶν καὶ τῇ κατὰ σάρκα σου Οἰκονομία τὴν σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν ἐργασάμενος ὁ τὸν φρόνιμον οἰκονόμον καλῶς οἰκονομήσαντα, ὡς Δεσπότης ἐπαινέσας, εὐλόγησον καὶ τὸν παρόντα δοῦλον σου (δεῖνα) εἰς Οἰκονόμον καὶ ἐνδυνάμωσον αὐτὸν καὶ ἐνίσχυσον, πρὸς τὸ πιστῶς και φρονίμως, καὶ εὐαρέστως σοι οἰκονομεῖν τὰ τῆςἘκκλησίας πράγματά τε καὶ χρήματα ὅπως οὕτω ποιήσας, καὶ οὕτω διακονήσας, ἀξιωθῆ τῆς χαρᾶς τῶν τὰ τάλαντα καλῶς διακονησάν των, ἀποφύγηδὲ τὴν φευκτὴν ἐντροπήν τε καὶ κατάκρισιν τοῦ τὸ τάλαντον ὀλιγώρως καταχώσαντος δούλου πονηροῦ. Εὐχαῖς καὶ πρεσβείαις τῆς Ὑπερευλογημένης Δεσποίνης ἡμῶν Θεοτόκου, τοῦ Ἁγίου καὶ Πανευφήμου Ἀποστόλου καὶ γενναίου Μάρτυρος Βαρνάβα καὶ πάντων σου τῶν Ἁγίων. Ὅτι ἡγίασται καὶ δεδόξασται τὸ πάντιμον καὶ μεγαλοπρεπὲς ὄνομά σου τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰῶνων. Ἀμήν.

ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΑ ΟΤΑΝ ΠΟΙΗ Ο ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΟΝ

Ceremony when a Hierarch Creates a Father Confessor

Ποιεῖ Εὐλογητόν. Καὶ εὐθὺς τὸ Τρισάγιον. «Παναγία Τριάς… Πάτερ ἡμῶν… Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία…» Εἶτα τὴν παροῦσαν Εὐχήν…

Enarxis: “Blessed is our God…” Then, “Holy God… All-holy Trinity… Our Father… For thine is the kingdom…” Then the following prayer:

Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ τῷ Πέτρω, καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς ἕνδεκα Μαθηταῖς, ἀποστολικὴν καὶ πνευματικὴν διακονίαν χαρισάμενος, λύειν καὶ δεσμεύειν τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων πταίσματα ἐντειλάμενος, αὐτὸς καὶ νῦν τὸν δοῦλόν σου (δεῖνα), τὸν παρ’ ἐμοῦ μὲν ψηφισθέντα, πάσης δὲ χάριτος τελειωθέντα, ἄξιον καὶ αὐτὸν τῆς ἀποστολικῆς καὶ πνευματικῆς σου διακονίας, διὰ τῆς ἐμῆς ἐλεεινότητος ἀνάδειξον, εἰς τὸ λύειν καὶ δεσμεύειν τὰ τῶν ἀναξίων πταίσματα. Ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ δοτὴρ τῶν ἀγαθῶν, καὶ σοὶ τῆν δόξαν ἀναπέμπομεν, σὺν τῷ Πατρί, καὶ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰῶνων. Ἀμήν.

Lord Jesus Christ our God, You granted to Peter and the rest of the eleven Disciples an apostolic and spiritual ministry, and You commanded them to both loose and bind the transgressions of people. Now I pray over Your servant (name), whom I have authorized, and who is duly ordained, that You make him a worthy provider of this apostolic and spiritual ministry of Yours, through my lowliness, to loose and bind the transgressions of the unworthy. For You are the giver of blessings, and we offer up glory to You and the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Καὶ μετὰ ταύτην, τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον.

Then the Gospel reading:

Ἡ μετριότης (ἢ ἡ ταπεινότης) ἡμῶν, διὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ παναγίου καὶ τελεταρχικοῦ Πνεύματος, προχειρίζεταί σε τὸν εὐλαβέστατον (δεῖνα) Πνευματικόν, εἰς τὸ τῆς πνευματικῆς πατρότητος λειτούργημα, εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος. Αμήν.

My humble self, by the grace of the all-holy and consecrating Spirit, ordains you, the most devout (name), to the order of Father Confessor, to perform the ministry of spiritual fatherhood, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ΤΑΞΙΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΓΕΝΕΣΘΑΙ ΠΡΩΤΟΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΥ

Ἐπὶ δὲ ΠΡΩΤΟΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΥ λεγέτω ταύτην:

Δέσποτα Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ τὴν Ἱερωσύνην χαρισάμενος τῷ γένει ἡμῶν, καὶ τῆς τοι αύτης δωρεᾶς καὶ τιμῆς τῆν χάριν ἡμᾶς ἐνδυσάμενος, καὶ αὐτοὺς ἱκανοὺς εὐλαβεῖς καθιστάμενος, τοῦ ἰερατικῶς δια τάττειν, καὶ διακονεῖν τοὺς ὑποβεβηκότας λειτουργοὺς τῶν Μυστηρίων σου. Αὐτὸς ἔνδυσον τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν (δεῖνα) καὶ τῇ σεμνότητι κατα κόσμησο ναὐτόν, τοῦ ἐν ἀρχῆ ἴστασθαι τῶν Πρεσβυτέρων τοῦ λαοῦ σου, καὶ καλὸν ὑπό δειγματοῖς μετ’ αὐτὸν γενέσθαι καταξίωσον καὶ μετ’ εὐλαβείας καὶ αἰδοῦς ἐνγήρεικα λῶτελέσαιτὸν βίον εὐδόκησον καὶ πάντας ἡμᾶς ὡς ἀγαθὸς Θεὸς ἐλέησον. Ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ δοτὴρ τῆς σοφίας καὶ σὲ ὑμνεῖ πᾶσα ἡ Κτίσις, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.