| ‘The order for the ordination
(cheirotonia) of a deacon who must at least be 25 years
old’ |
‘The order for the ordination
(cheirotonia) of a deaconess
who must have lived as a chaste
virgin and who is now single, of good bearing, without exaggerated hairdo and
eminent in character to such an extent that she can truly stand up also to men
and earn their respect. |
| |
For such a woman candidate all [ritual]
is performed that is also performed for male deacons, with only a few
differences. |
| After the sacred offertory, the doors [of the
sanctuary] are opened and, before the Deacon starts the litany ‘All
Saints’, and after the prayer ‘his mercies’ has been said by the
bishop, the man who is to ordained Deacon is led by the archdeacon or by one of
the other deacons to the sacred altar towards the right side of the bishop. The
secretary on his left side hands the bishop a written statement and the
secretary or archdeacon calls aloud: “Pay attention!” The bishop then
reads the written statement in the hearing of all who stand around as follows:
“‘Divine Grace, which always heals what is
infirm and makes up for what is lacking, promotes so-and-so, this most devout
Subdeacon, to be a Deacon. Let us therefore pray that the grace of the Holy
Spirit may descend on him.’ keeps his hand imposed on his head and prays:
|
For she is led to the sacred altar, her head covered by
the [woman’s] scarf, with the two tips of it in front [over her
shoulders].
After the ‘Divine Grace’ [statement] has been
said, the woman to be ordained does not bend the knee as a male ordinand does,
but bows her head. The Bishop makes the sign of the cross on her head three
times. Then keeping his hand on her head, he prays as follows: |
“Lord our God, in your providence you send the
working and abundance of your All-holy Spirit on those who through your
inscrutable power are constituted liturgical ministers to serve your immaculate
mysteries, please, preserve, Lord, this man whom you want me to promote to the
Deacon's task [leitourgia of the diaconate], in all seriousness and
strictness of good behaviour, that he may guard the mystery of faith with a
pure conscience.
And give him the grace which you have given to Stephen
your first martyr.
And after having called him to the work of your
ministry, in your good pleasure make him worthy to perform the degree [of
responsibility] you entrust to him.
For those who perform it well, will
acquire for themselves a high degree.
Make your servant perfect, for yours
are the kingdom and the power.” |
“Holy and Omnipotent Lord, through the birth of
your Only Son our God from a Virgin according to the flesh, you have sanctified
the female sex. You grant not only to men, but also to women the grace and
coming (from above) of the Holy Spirit. Please, Lord, look on this your maid
servant and dedicate her to the task of your diaconate, and pour out into her
the rich and abundant giving of your Holy Spirit.
Preserve her so that she
may always perform her ministry (leitourgia) with orthodox faith and
irreproachable conduct, according to what is pleasing to you.
For to you is
due all glory, honour and worship, to the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit,
now and always and for all ages.” |
| The Archdeacon says intercessions, in a low voice, but
in such a way that the Deacons around him can hear him and respond. ‘Let
us pray the Lord in peace. For heavenly peace. For her. For our father and
Archbishop so-and-so, for his priesthood, help, perseverance, peace, health and
the works of his hands, and for so-and-so who has now been promoted to be a
Deacon, for his salvation we pray the Lord.’ ‘That the merciful and
people-loving Lord may give him a sincere and incontaminated diaconate, let us
pray the Lord.’ ‘For the faithful. For this city and the entire
state. That we may be saved. And for all the people in need. Accept us. Save
us. Have mercy on us. On the intercession of the all-holy immaculate one
[Mary]. [Meanwhile the Archbishop keeping his hand on the head of the ordinand,
prays as follows:] |
While the deacons’ intercessions are said, the
bishop keeping his hand on the head of the woman to be ordained, prays as
follows: |
“God, our Saviour, with incorruptible voice you
have foretold it, you announced that he would be first who would perform the
ministry of the diaconate, as is written in your holy Gospel: ‘Who ever
wants to be first among you, must be your servant [diakonos]’,
please, Lord of all, fill this servant of yours whom you have made worthy to
enter the ministry [leitourgia] of Deacon, through the lifegiving coming of
your Holy life-giving Spirit with all faith, charity, power and holiness.
Now, Lord, look upon this man. For grace is given to those you deem worthy, not
by the imposition of my hands, but by the visitation of your rich mercy, so
that, purified from sin, he may on that fearful day of your judgment be
presented t you without guilt, and receive the reward of your unfailing
promise.
For you are our God, and to you we give glory, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. ” |
“Lord, Master, you do not reject women who
dedicate themselves to you and who are willing, in a becoming way, to serve
your Holy House, but admit them to the order of your ministers
[leitourgôn].
Grant the gift of your Holy Spirit also to this
your maid servant who wants to dedicate herself to you, and fulfil in her the
work and the office of the ministry of the diaconate, as you have granted to
Phoebe the grace of your diaconate, whom you had called to the work of this
ministry [leitourgia].
Give her, Lord, that she may persevere
without guilt in your Holy Temple, that she may carefully guard her behaviour,
especially her prudence and chastity.
Moreover, make your maid servant
perfect , so that, when she will stand before the judgement seat of your
Christ, she may obtain the worthy reward of her good conduct, through the mercy
and generosity of your Only Son, with whom you are blessed with your all-holy
and good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for all ages.” |
| The Archbishop imposes the stole [to horarion]
on the ordinand. He kisses him and hands him the holy
fan and makes him fan the [altar] table from the side while the deacon in
the ambo says: ‘Remembering all the saints’. |
After the ‘Amen’, the bishop puts the stole
of the diaconate [to diakonikon horarion] round her neck, under her
[woman's] scarf [maphorion], pulling the two extremities of the stole
towards the front, while the deacon in the ambo says: ‘Remembering all the
saints’.. |
| With regard to the partaking of the divine mysteries,
before the other deacons the ordained deacon receives of the sacred bread from
the ordaining bishop and receives of the precious blood before others from the
person who hands it to the bishop. With the priest or bishop who receives the
holy chalice, he also partakes of it. If there are two chalices, he receives
the second one from the bishop and going out [of the sanctuary] he hands the
chalice to the people who are gathered. If there is only one chalice, he waits
till all in the sanctuary received of the chalice from the priest or bishop who
takes the chalice to the ordaining bishop. [The ordinand] then receives the
chalice from him [the bishop] and going out distributes it to those who
approach. |
At the time of the partaking of the sacred mysteries,
she shares of the divine body and blood with the deacons.
She receives the
chalice from the hands of the bishop, but does not distribute it to others. She
immediately puts it back on the holy table [of the altar]. |
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