Part 17
_Then they raise him up, and bring the epitrachelion, and taking the orarion from him that hath received the laying on of hands, the Archpriest giveth him the epitrachelion, having blessed it, and he that hath received the laying on of hands kisseth the epitrachelion, and the Archpriest’s hand. And the Archpriest layeth it upon his neck, saying with a loud voice_, Axios. _And they sing in the altar thrice_, Axios. _And the singers without sing the same in both choirs. In like manner he giveth him also the girdle, and he kisseth it, and the Archpriest’s hand, and girdeth himself. And the Archpriest saith_, Axios. _And they sing in the altar and without in like manner. And they do the same with the phelonion, and with the sloujébnik. And the Archpriest saith with each_, Axios. _And they sing according to custom. And, having kissed the omophorion and the Archpriest’s hand, he that hath received the laying on of hands as priest goeth out and kisseth the archimandrites, and all the co-ministrants on the shoulder, and standeth with the priests._
THE ORDER OF THE OFFICE FOR THE MAKING OF A PROTOPRESBYTER.
_He that is to be appointed protopresbyter is conducted by a protodeacon, or by two deacons, to the right reverend Archpriest in the middle of the church, where the Archpriest standeth at the time of the introit with the gospel. And he inclineth himself to his girdle before the Archpriest thrice, and boweth his head. And the Archpriest, sitting, signeth him with the hand on his head crosswise thrice. And, rising, he layeth his hand upon his head. And the protodeacon having said_, Let us pray to the Lord,
_the Archpriest saith this prayer._
Master, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who hast bestowed priesthood on our race, and hast endued us with the grace of this gift and honour, and hast appointed us who are sufficiently pious to rule the priestly order, and the other subordinate ministers of thy mysteries; do thou thyself endue our brother, _name_, with thy grace, and adorn him with virtue to stand at the head of the presbyters of thy people, and make him worthy to be a good example to them that are with him; and be thou pleased that he may finish his life in piety and virtue unto a good old age; and, as the good God, have mercy upon us all. For thou art the giver of wisdom, and all creation singeth thee to ages of ages.
_Then the Archpriest signeth his head crosswise, saying_, Blessed be the Lord, lo, the servant of God, _name_, becometh protopresbyter of the most holy church of God, _name_, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
_And the Archpriest, laying his hand upon his head, exclaimeth_, Axios, _iii. And the singers sing,_ Axios, _thrice. Then they range the protopresbyter with the other clergy according to rite, and they go into the altar through the royal doors, and they act with the ministers according to rite._
THE OFFICE THAT IS USED AT THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ABBOT.
_He that is to be appointed abbot is conducted by a protodeacon, or by two deacons, to the Archpriest in the middle of the church, where the Archpriest standeth at the time of the introit with the gospel, if the Archpriest himself be celebrating the liturgy. But if not, they bring to the Archpriest the epitrachelion, the maniples, and the omophorion, and he vesteth himself, standing in his place. And he that is to be appointed abbot is conducted to his place, and inclineth himself to his girdle before the Archpriest thrice, and boweth his head. And the Archpriest, sitting, signeth him with the hand upon his head thrice. And, rising, he layeth his hand upon his head, and the protodeacon having said_, Let us pray to the Lord,
_the Archpriest saith this prayer._
O God, who ever makest provision for the salvation of men, and gatherest together in one this thy rational flock; do thou, O Master of all things, in thy measureless love to man, thyself preserve this same blameless, keeping thy commandments continually, so that not one sheep thereof may be lost, and be devoured by the wolf. And declare this thy servant, whom thou art pleased to appoint abbot over it, worthy of thy grace, and adorn him with all virtues, that he, by his works, may be a good example to them that are under him, that they, being emulators of his blameless conversation, may stand with him uncondemned before thy fearful judgment-seat.
_Exclamation._ For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. _Singers._ Amen.
_Archpriest._ Peace to all.
_Singers._ And to thy spirit. _Protodeacon._ Bow your heads to the Lord. _Singers._ To thee, O Lord.
_The Archpriest prayeth secretly._
Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hearken unto our prayer, and declare this thy servant to be abbot of this honourable habitation, a faithful and wise administrator over the rational flock committed to him by thy grace, he doing thy will in all things, and becoming worthy of thy heavenly kingdom.
_Exclamation._
Through the grace, and compassions, and love to man of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_And the protodeacon saith with a loud voice_, Bid, master.
_And the Archpriest saith with a loud voice,_
The grace of the all-holy Spirit, through our mediocrity, appointeth thee abbot of the honourable habitation of our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, _name, whatever title of him the temple may be, or_, of our most holy God-bearing Lady, _whatever title of her the temple may be, or_, of Saint, _name, to whom may be dedicated the temple_.
_Then, laying his hand upon his head, the Archpriest exclaimeth_, Axios, _thrice. And the singers sing_, Axios, _thrice._
_After this he that hath been appointed abbot kisseth the Archpriest’s omophorion on the right and left shoulder; and, being conducted, he rangeth himself with the other abbots according to rite; and they go into the altar through the royal doors, and he acteth with the ministers according to rite._
THE OFFICE THAT IS USED AT THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ARCHIMANDRITE.
_He that is to be appointed archimandrite is conducted by a protodeacon, or by two deacons, to the Archpriest in the middle of the church where the Archpriest standeth at the time of the introit with the gospel, if the Archpriest himself be celebrating the liturgy. But if not, they bring the epitrachelion, the maniples, and the omophorion to the Archpriest, and he vesteth himself standing in his place. And he that is to be appointed archimandrite is conducted to his place, and he inclineth himself to his girdle thrice before the Archpriest, and boweth his head. And the Archpriest, sitting, signeth him with the hand upon his head thrice. And if he that is to be appointed archimandrite be not an abbot, the Archpriest saith over him the prayers which are said over an abbot. But if he be already an abbot the prayers for an abbot are not said over the archimandrite, and the protodeacon only saith with a loud voice,_
Bid, master.
_And the Archpriest exclaimeth with a loud voice,_
The grace of the all-holy Spirit, through our mediocrity, appointeth thee archimandrite of the honourable habitation of our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, or, of our most holy God-bearing Lady, _whatever temple of her it may be, or_, of Saint, _name, to whom may be dedicated the temple_.
_Then the Archpriest, laying his hand on the head of him that is appointed, exclaimeth_ Axios, _thrice._
_And the singers sing_, Axios, _thrice._
_And if, by the command of our Most Pious, Autocratic Great Lord, THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER ALEXANDROVITCH of all Russia, and with the blessing of the Most Holy Governing Synod, the mitre be given to the archimandrite, then after the procession from the altar with the gospel at the divine liturgy, the archimandrite is conducted to the Archpriest. And the Archpriest doth not say the prayer, but only blesseth the archimandrite with the hand. And he kisseth the Archpriest’s hand, and the mitre; and they place the mitre on the archimandrite. And, being conducted, he rangeth himself with the archimandrites and abbots according to degree, and they go into the altar through the royal doors, and he acteth with the ministers according to rite._
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