Ordination to the Holy Diaconate

In preparation for the ordination, the candidate shall attend Vespers on the eve of his ordination and, after having a light supper, begin his Eucharistic Fast. During that time, he shall interact as little as possible with anyone and spend that time praying and preparing himself for the ordination. Married candidates shall refrain from marital relations during this time. He shall have his confession heard either after Vespers or before Orthros on the day of the ordination.

 

On the day of the ordination, the candidate shall be in his cassock. After receiving any instructions from the Bishop’s Assistant and/or his Priest, he shall go to a corner and not interact with anyone. During this time he shall pray silently. During the Great Doxology, the Bishop’s Assistant will lead the candidate to the Altar. The candidate will take the pitcher, bowl and towel. Following the Great Doxology, but before the apolytikion which follows, the candidate is led by the Bishop’s Assistant to the center of the solea in front of the Bishop. The candidate assists the Bishop with washing his hands. After drying his hands with the towel, the Bishop will drape the towel over the candidate’s head and shoulders. The candidate, with the pitcher and bowl in hand, will then go to stand before the icon of Christ. The apolytikion before the Divine Liturgy begins and the first Deacon begins the Opening Dialogue with the Bishop in the usual manner.

 

At the time when the Bishop is to wash his hands during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the candidate is led by the Bishop’s Assistant to the center of the solea in front of the Bishop. The candidate assists the Bishop with washing his hands. After drying his hands with the towel, the Bishop will drape the towel back over the candidate’s head and shoulders. The candidate will enter the Altar through the south door. During the Great Entrance, the candidate, with the pitcher and bowl in hand, walks at the very end behind the processional fans. Following the Great Entrance, the candidate goes to stand before the icon of the Theotokos. After the Bishop intones, “And the Mercies of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, be with you all,” the two sponsors and the Bishop’s Assistant go out the north door. A chair is placed at the northwest corner of the Holy Table. The Bishop’s Assistant takes the pitcher and bowl from the candidate. The sponsors lead the candidate to the center of the solea.

 

The sponsors help the candidate make a prostration, as the first sponsor intones in a loud voice:

First Sponsor: COMMAND!

 

The sponsors help the candidate make a second prostration, as the second sponsor intones in a loud voice:

Second Sponsor: COMMAND!

 

The sponsors help the candidate make a third prostration, as the first sponsor intones in a loud voice:

First Sponsor: COMMAND! Holy Master, bless him who is before thee.

 

The Bishop blesses the candidate and goes to sit in the chair. The sponsors lead the candidate through the Holy Doors, as the people begin the following three Troparia:

 

People: (Tone 7) Ye Holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and hath received your crowns: entreat ye the Lord, that He will have mercy on our souls.

 

(Tone 7) Glory to Thee, O Christ our God: the Apostles’ boast, the Martyrs’ joy, whose preaching was the Consubstantial Trinity.

 

(Tone 5) O Isaiah, dance thy joy, for a Virgin was with Child and hath borne a Son, Emmanuel, both God and Man, and Orient is His Name. Whom magnifying, we call the Virgin blessed.

 

While the people are singing the above Troparia, the sponsors lead the candidate around the Holy Table three times. Each time, the candidate kisses each of the four corners of the Holy Table, followed by the hand and epigonation of the Bishop, who is seated at the northwest corner of the Holy Table. After the third time, the Bishop stands up and the chair is moved away from the Holy Table. The candidate kneels in front of the Altar, places his right hand over his left hand on the edge of the Holy Table, and places his forehead on top of his hands. The Parish Priest asks all the people in the Church to kneel, and the Deacon intones in a loud voice:

 

Deacon: Let us attend!

 

Bishop: The Grace Divine, Which always healeth that which is infirm, and completeth that which is wanting, elevateth, through the laying-on of hands, (Name), the most devout Subdeacon to be a Deacon. Wherefore, let us pray for him, that the Grace of the All-Holy Spirit may come upon him.

 

Bishop: Kyrie, eleison. (Thrice, very slowly)

 

While the Bishop is slowly singing, “Kyrie, eleison” three times, the Deacon very quickly and quietly intones the following Ektenia in the Altar. He must finish by the time the Bishop finishes singing, “Kyrie, eleison” three times.

 

Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

 

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.

 

For our Father and (Patriarch, Metropolitan, or Bishop) (Name), for his Priesthood, help, maintenance, peace, health and salvation; and for the good works of his hands, let us pray to the Lord.

For the servant of God, (Name) who hath now received the laying-on of hands to be a Deacon, and for his salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For the President of the United States, for all civil authorities, and for our Armed Forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For this city, and for every city and land, and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

 

Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

 

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.

 

The Bishop then begins the Prayers of Ordination:

 

Bishop: O Lord our God, Who, by Thy foreknowledge, dost send down the fullness of the Holy Spirit upon those who are ordained by Thine inscrutable power to be Thy servitors and to administer Thy Spotless Mysteries: Do Thou, the same Master, preserve also this man, whom Thou hast been pleased to ordain, through me, by the laying-on of hands, to the service of the Deaconate, in all soberness of life, holding the mystery of the Faith in a pure conscience. Vouchsafe unto him the grace which Thou didst grant unto Stephen, Thy first Martyr, whom, also, Thou didst call to be the first in the work of Thy ministry; and make him worthy to administer after Thy pleasure the degree which it both seemeth good to Thee to confer upon him. For they who minister well prepare for themselves a good degree. And manifest him as wholly Thy servant. 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.

 

O God our Savior, Who, by Thine incorruptible voice, didst appoint unto Thine Apostles the law of the Deaconate, and didst manifest the first Martyr, Stephen, to be of the same; and didst proclaim him the first who should exercise the office of a Deacon, as it is written in Thy Holy Gospel, “Whosoever desireth to be first among you, let him be your servant”: Do Thou, O Master of all, fill also this Thy servant, whom Thou hast graciously permitted to enter upon the ministry of a Deacon, with all faith, and love, and power, and holiness, through the inspiration of Thy Holy and Life-Giving Spirit; for not through the laying-on of my hands, but through the visitation of Thy rich bounties, is grace bestowed upon Thy worthy ones; that he, being devoid of all sin, may stand blameless before Thee on the awesome Day of Thy Judgment, and receive the unfailing reward of Thy promise. For Thou art our God, and unto Thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

 

People: Amen.

 

The new Deacon and the people rise. The new Deacon kisses the Bishop’s right hand and omophorion, turns and stands facing the people next to the Bishop in the Holy Doors. The Bishop takes each piece of the new Deacon’s vestments, blesses it and shouts to the people:

 

Bishop: HE IS WORTHY!

 

People: HE IS WORTHY!

 

Bishop: MUSTAHEK!

 

People: MUSTAHEK!

 

Bishop: AXIOS!

 

People: AXIOS!

 

People: AXIOS! (Thrice, singing)

 

While the people are singing “AXIOS” three times, the Bishop, with the help of the Bishop’s Assistant, puts the pieces of the vestment on the new Deacon. The above is repeated for each piece of the vestment. Once the new Deacon is fully vested, he kisses the Bishop’s right hand. The Bishop hands the new Deacon a Service Book, while the people sing:

 

People:    Eis polla eti, Dhespota.

 

The new Deacon stands on the solea facing east, lifts his orarion with the first three fingers of his right hand (in the same manner as making the sign of the Cross), and intones the following Ektenia:

 

The Ektenia Before the Lord’s Prayer

Deacon: Calling to remembrance all the Saints, again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People: Lord, have mercy.

 

Deacon: For the precious Gifts which have been offered and sanctified, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People: Lord, have mercy.

 

Deacon: That our Lord God, Who lovest mankind, receiving them upon His Holy, heavenly, and ideal Altar as an odor of spiritual fragrance, will send down upon us in return His Divine Grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People: Lord, have mercy.

 

Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

 

People: Lord, have mercy.

 

Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

 

People: Lord, have mercy.

 

Deacon: That the whole day may be perfect, Holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Deacon: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Deacon: Pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Deacon: All things good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Deacon: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Deacon: A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful, and a good defense before the awesome Judgment Seat of Christ, let us ask.

 

People: Grant this, O Lord.

 

Deacon: Asking for the unity of the Faith, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

 

People: To Thee, O Lord.

 

The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy continues and the new Deacon serves the remainder of the service as the first Deacon.