The Office Used at the Elevation of an Archimandrite

THE OFFICE USED AT THE ELEVATION OF AN ARCHIMANDRITE

He who is to be installed as Archimandrite is led by the Proto-Deacon, or by two Deacons, to the Bishop, in the middle of the Church, where the Bishop standeth, at the time of the Little Entrance with the book of the Holy Gospels, if the Bishop himself be the celebrant at the Divine Liturgy. But if not, then they bring to the Bishop his priestly stole, his gauntlets, and his pall, and he vesteth himself where he standeth. He who is to be installed as Archimandrite, being brought to his appointed place, boweth before the Bishop, even to his girdle, and bendeth his head. And the Bishop, sitting, maketh thrice, with his hand, the sign of the cross over his head. And if the Candidate for the rank of Archimandrite be already an Abbot, the Prayers at the Elevation of an Abbot are not used, and the Proto-Deacon saith only, aloud:

Command, Master:

And the Bishop saith, in a loud voice:

The grace of the all-holy Spirit, through our humility promoteth thee to be Archimandrite of the venerable habitation of our Lord, and God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ; or of our most holy Lady, the Birth-giver of God (if the Temple be dedicated to her); or of Saint N. (if it be dedicated to a Saint).

Then, laying his hand upon the head of him who is being elevated, the Bishop exclaimeth: Axios! (Thrice.)

Choir:         Axios. (Thrice.)

And if a mitre is to be conferred upon an Archimandrite, then, after the Little Entrance from the Sanctuary, with the book of the Holy Gospels, the Archimandrite is led to the Bishop. And the Bishop saith no prayer, but only blesseth the Archimandrite with his hand. And the Archimandrite kisseth the hand of the Bishop, and the mitre; and the mitre is then put upon the Archimandrite. Then he is led away, and placed with the other Archimandrites and Abbots, according to his rank. And they enter the Sanctuary through the Holy Door, and minister with the Clergy who are celebrating, according to the Ritual.

And at the end of the Divine Liturgy the Bishop, giving the Archimandrite (or Abbot) his pastoral staff, saith:

Take this staff and with it establish and rule thy flock: seeing that thou must answer therefor to our Lord God, on the Day of Judgment. Then the Bishop exhorteth him and his flock to the observance of their respective duties.