Liturgy and Worship Liturgical Text The Order of Ordination of Priests
THE ORDINATION OF PRIESTS
After the Cherubimic Hymn has been finished, the Candidate is led by a deacon or a priest in the same manner, and after the same exclamations of Command, Command, as in the Ordination of Deacons, etc., and when the Candidate has knelt before the Altar, the priest says: Let us attend. The Bishop, laying his hand upon the Candidate's head, pronounces, aloud, in the hearing of all those who stand in the church:
The grace divine, which always healeth that which is infirm, and completeth that which is wanting, elevateth through the laying-on of hands, N., the most devout Deacon, to be a Priest. Wherefore, let us pray for him, that the grace of the all-holy Spirit may come upon him.
Then the clergy in the Sanctuary and the singers with¬out sing: Kyrie eleison (thrice, slowly), while the Bishop recites the following prayers quietly:
O God, who hast no beginning and no ending; who art older than every created thing; who crownest with the name of Presbyter those whom thou deemest worthy to serve the world of thy truth in the divine ministry of this degree. Do thou, the same Lord of all men, deign to preserve in pureness of life and in unswerving faith this man, also, upon whom, through me, thou hast graciously been pleased to lay hands. Be favorably pleased to grant unto him the great grace of thy Holy Spirit, and make him wholly thy servant, in all things acceptable unto thee, and worthily exercising the great honours of the priesthood which thou hast conferred upon him by thy prescient power.
O God great in might and inscrutable in wisdom, marvelous in counsel above the sons of men: Do thou, the same Lord, fill with the gift of thy Holy Spirit this man whom it hath pleased thee to advance to the degree of Priest; that he may be worthy to stand in innocency before thine Altar; to proclaim the Gospel of thy kingdom; to minister the word of thy truth; to offer unto thee spiritual gifts and sacrifices; to renew thy people through the laver of regeneration. That when he shall go to meet thee, at the Second Coming of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, thine Only-be¬gotten Son, he may receive the reward of a good steward in the degree committed unto him, through the plenitude of thy goodness.
Meanwhile, the priest or deacon says in a low voice:
DEACON: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: For the peace of the whole world; for the good estate of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all men, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: For our Metropolitan (Bishop or Archbishop) N., and for his priesthood, succour, maintenance, peace, health and salvation; and for the works of his hands, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: For the servant of God, N., who hath now received the Laying-on of Hands to the Priesthood, and for his salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: That the God who loveth mankind will vouchsafe unto him a pure and blameless ministry, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: For the President of the United States and all civil authorities, and for our Armed Forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: For this city, and for every city and land, and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: Help us ; save us ; have mercy on us ; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
CHOIR: Lord Have Mercy.
DEACON: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
CHOIR : To thee, O Lord.
BISHOP: For blessed and glorified is thine all-holy and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
Then they raise up the Candidate and the Bishop vests him, saying at each part of the vestment, loudly:
Axios! (Worthy!)
And the clergy within the Sanctuary and the singers without repeat, singing:
Axios. (thrice)
Then the newly ordained Priest kisses the Bishop's hand and stole and kisses all his fellow clergy on the shoulder, and takes his place among the Priests.
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