Library › Offices of the Holy Eastern Church
Offices of the Holy Eastern Church
tr. Littledale, 1863
10. Consecration of a Bishop
At the close of the Trisagion, the Bishop goes up to the footpace before the Holy Table, and the Candidate is led up to him on the right hand by three of the Bishops present, and the Registrar, on the left, gives him a paper, in which the following form is written, if the Consecrator be a Patriarch:
By the vote and scrutiny of the Most Holy Metropolitans, and God-loved Archbishops and Bishops.
If he be a Metropolitan, in Constantinople, as follows:
By the vote and scrutiny of the Most Holy Metropolitans, the God-loved Archbishops, and Bishops, the Divine Grace, which always healeth that which is sick, and filleth up that which lacketh, advances (N.) the most pious Elect, to be Metropolitan of the most sacred Metropolis (N.). Let us therefore pray to him, that the grace of the All-Holy Spirit may come on him.
And those within and without the Bema say: Lord have mercy, thrice.
When this paper has been given to the Bishop, and the Registrar or the Archdeacon has said: Let us attend, the Bishop reads the writing so as to be heard by those standing round, and when all have exclaimed: Lord have mercy, as has been stated before, the Bishop opens the Gospel, and lays it on the head and neck of the Candidate, the other Bishops touching him at the same time. (31) Then making three Crosses on his head, and keeping the right hand laid on it, he prays thus secretly:
O Lord and Master, our God, Who by Thine illustrious Apostle Paul hast enjoined on us the order of degrees and ranks for the service and ministry of Thy sacred and stainless mysteries at Thy Holy Altar, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, do Thou, O Lord of all, strengthen this man elected and deemed worthy of taking on him the yoke of the Gospel and the Episcopal dignity, through the hands of me a sinner and the Ministers and fellow-Bishops here present, strengthen him with the visitation and might and grace of Thy Holy Spirit, as Thou didst strengthen Thy Holy Apostles and Prophets; as Thou didst anoint the kings, as Thou didst sanctify the high priests; and make his episcopate blameless, and adorning him with all holiness, make him saintly, that he may be worthy to pray for the salvation of the people, and that Thou mayest hear him. For Thy Name is hallowed and Thy kingdom glorified &c.
And after the Amen, one of the consecrating Bishops says in a low voice, loud enough for the attendant Bishops to hear, the Diaconal sentences:
In peace
For the servant of God (N.) now advanced to be Bishop, and for his salvation.
That our loving God may grant him a spotless and blameless Episcopate &c.
When this has been said, the Bishop, still, keeping his hand imposed on the head of the Candidate, prays as follows secretly:
O Lord our God, Who, because the nature of man cannot endure the presence of the substance of the Godhead, hast in Thy governance appointed for us teachers of like passions with ourselves, occupying Thy seat, to offer unto Thee sacrifice and oblation for all Thy people, do Thou, O Christ, grant that this man, now made a steward of episcopal grace, may be an imitator of Thee the true Shepherd, giving his life for Thy sheep, to be a guide of the blind, a light to those in darkness, a teacher of the ignorant, an instructor of infants, a lamp in the world, that having trained the souls committed unto him in this present life, he may stand unashamed at Thy judgment-seat and receive the great reward which Thou hast prepared for those who contend for the preaching of Thy Gospel. For Thou, O God, hast mercy and dost save us, and to Thee we ascribe glory, Father, Son, and Holy (Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.
And after the Amen, he takes up the Gospel, and places it on the Holy Table, and then puts the Pall on the Candidate, saying: Worthy, which the Clergy also does.
Then the Consecrator kisses the consecrated, and so do the other Bishops. And at the close of the accustomed acclamation they ascend to the apse, and the newly consecrated Bishop taking his seat first, offers the prayer for peace at the Lection of the Apostle, and first of all partakes of the Precious Body and Blood of Christ. And he too communicates the Consecrator and the rest.