The Ordination of a Bishop
The following text is being made available for study by cantors enrolled in the courses of the Metropolican Cantor Institute. It was promulgated and published by the Council of Hierarchs of the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh in 2013.
The Order of Naming a Hierarch
At the appointed time, the hierarchs are assembled. The presiding hierarch puts on the epitrachilion. The announcement is made to the episcopal candidate by the archpriest in this way.
Archpriest: All-honorable Father (Name), the holy father (Name), the Pope of Rome, blesses [or: approves] your sanctity to be the bishop of the God-saved city of (Name).
The decree of appointment is read. The episcopal candidate replies:
Episcopal candidate: Because the holy father (Name), the Pope of Rome, has decreed [or: approved] me to carry out this ministry, I give thanks and accept and say nothing to the contrary.
The Presiding hierarch intones:
Presiding hierarch: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever and forever.
Other hierarchs: Amen.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O gracious One.
Throughout Pascha, the following is chanted in place of “Glory to you” and “Heavenly King.”Presiding hierarch: Christ is risen from the dead! By death he trampled Death; and to those in the tombs he granted life.
Other hierarchs: Christ is risen from the dead! By death he trampled Death; and to those in the tombs he granted life. (Twice)
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse us of our sins; Master, forgive our transgressions; Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for your name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Presiding hierarch: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Other hierarchs: Amen.
The other hierarchs continue with the Troparion and Kontakion chanted recitando:
Blessed are you, O Christ our God. * You have shown the fishermen to be all-wise, * sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. * Through them you have caught the whole world in your net. * O Lover of us all, glory to you!
Glory...now and ever...
When the Most High descended and confused tongues, * he scattered nations. * When he distributed the tongues of fire, * he called all to unity. * We also, with one voice, * glorify the Most Holy Spirit.
Presiding hierarch: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear and have mercy.
Other hierarchs: Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
- Again we pray for our holy father (Name), Pope of Rome, and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Other hierarchs: Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
- Again we pray for the all-honorable Father (Name), newly-chosen to be bishop of the God-saved city of (Name).
Other hierarchs: Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
- Again we pray for the whole brotherhood and for all Christians of the true faith.
Other hierarchs: Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Presiding hierarch: For you are a merciful and loving God, and we give glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Other hierarchs: Amen.
Then immediately the dismissal:
Presiding hierarch: Wisdom! Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Other hierarchs: More honorable than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim; who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word, you, truly the Theotokos, we magnify.
Throughout Pascha, the following is sung in place of “More honorable.”
Other hierarchs: Shine in splendor, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. O Zion, now dance and be glad; and you, pure Theotokos, rejoice in the resurrection of your Son.
Presiding hierarch: Glory to you, O Christ God, our hope, glory to you.
Other hierarchs: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Most Reverend [Arch]Bishop, give the blessing.
Throughout Pascha, the following is sung in place of “Glory to the Father.”
Other hierarchs: Christ is risen from the dead! By death he trampled Death; and to those in the tombs he granted life. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Most Reverend [Arch]Bishop, give the blessing.
Presiding hierarch: May Christ our true God, who for our salvation sent down the all-holy Spirit from heaven in tongues of fire upon his holy disciples and apostles, have mercy on us and save us through the prayers of his most pure Mother; and of the holy, glorious, and illustrious apostles; of our venerable and God-bearing fathers; and through the prayers of all the saints; for Christ is good and loves us all.
Other hierarchs: Amen.
The presiding hierarch intones the chant for long life:
To our holy father (Name), Pope of Rome, and to the all-honorable Father (Name), newly-chosen to be bishop of the God-saved city of (Name), grant, O Lord, many years.
Response: God grant them many years. God grant them many years. God grant them many blessed years.
In health and happiness, in health and happiness, God grant them many blessed years.
Presentation and Profession of the Episcopal Candidate
The Divine Praises are sung beginning the evening before the ordination, and the bells are rung as usual.
The ritual of presentation and profession of the episcopal candidate takes place at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy of Episcopal Ordination after the first blessing with candles. For pastoral reasons, it may be anticipated immediately before the dismissal of vespers the preceding evening.
The episcopal candidate has ready the profession of faith, written in his own hand.
The hierarchs and other clergy assemble in the cathedral and vest themselves according to the ritual.
Following the first blessing with the candles at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy of Episcopal Ordination, chairs are brought near the holy table for the ordaining bishops. In the middle of the church, near the ambon, is placed a large orlets with the head of the eagle closest to the bishops’ chairs.
The archdeacon opens the holy doors. The ordaining bishops sit.
The hierarchs command the archpriest and the archdeacon to summon him who is to receive ordination, and they, bowing and kissing the hands of the bishops, take the episcopal candidate, already vested in the vesture of a priest, and lead him upon the tail of the eagle on the orlets. The episcopal candidate makes three profound bows toward the sanctuary.
Then the archdeacon intones:
Archdeacon: The beloved of God, chosen and confirmed archimandrite [or: hieromonk; or: priest] (Name) is led forth for ordination to the rank of [Metropolitan Arch]Bishop of the God-saved city of (Name).
For pastoral reasons, the decree of appointment may be read at this time.
The candidate holds in his hands the profession of faith. The presiding hierarch says:
Presiding hierarch: Why have you come, and what do you ask of us in our humility?
The candidate answers, saying:
Episcopal candidate: Through the laying-on of hands, I ask the grace of episcopal ordination, most reverend [arch]bishop.
Presiding hierarch: And how do you believe?
The episcopal candidate recites the first profession of faith:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father before all ages. Light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in essence with the Father; through whom all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. He rose on the third day according to the scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he is coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of Life, who proceeds from the Father. Together with the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified; he spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I profess one baptism for the remission of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
When the candidate has said this, the presiding hierarch blesses him with the sign of the cross and says:
Presiding hierarch: The grace of God the Father, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, be with you.
The episcopal candidate is then led to the middle of the eagle (orlets), and the archdeacon intones as he is being led:
Archdeacon: The beloved of God, chosen and confirmed archimandrite [or: hieromonk; or: priest] (Name) is led forth for ordination to the rank of [Metropolitan Arch]Bishop of the God-saved city of (Name).
When the episcopal candidate stands upon the center of the eagle (orlets), the presiding hierarch says to him.
Presiding hierarch: Reveal to us, in greater detail, how you confess the attributes of the three Hypostases of the incomprehensible Godhead.
The episcopal candidate, in a clear and audible voice so that all can hear, reads the second profession of faith as follows:
I believe in one God in three distinct persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, understanding the distinction according to the properties and not according to essence. And this same essence is the whole Trinity, and it is also the One Only God. There is unity according to essence and form; Trinity according to properties and name. One is called the Father, another the Son, and the third the Holy Spirit. The Father is unbegotten and without beginning, for he does not have his being from anyone but from himself. I also believe that the Father is the principle of the Son and of the Spirit; of the Son, indeed, by generation, but of the Holy Spirit by procession. For the Father begets the Son and sends forth the Holy Spirit; the Son is begotten by the Father alone; and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and thus I assert but one source and profess but one cause of the Son and the Spirit, namely the Father. And again I say that the Son is an eternal and infinite principle; that he is not the beginning of created things, nor the first-born among creatures, merely possessing a primacy over them. Let it not be! Such is the impious absurdity of the Arians. For he of reprobate name blasphemed declaring that the Son and Holy Spirit are creatures. But I say that the Son is himself a principle deriving from the Father who is without a principle. And the Father is not separated from the Son, nor the Son from the Spirit, nor the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son. But the whole Father is in the Son and in the Holy Spirit; and the whole Son is in the Father and in the Holy Spirit; and the whole Holy Spirit is in the Father and in the Son. For they are united while remaining distinct, and they are distinct while remaining united. I also profess that the Word of God, co-eternal with the Father, before all ages, incomprehensible and infinite, condescended to our nature and took upon himself our fallen and utterly prostrate nature from the pure and virginal blood of the stainless and undefiled Virgin alone, in order that in his mercy he might bestow salvation and grace upon the whole world. We must know that he who is God suffered, but only in the flesh and hence I do not say that the divinity can or did suffer in the flesh. He died, therefore, accepting death for us, but his divinity remained immortal. After his resurrection from the dead, he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. I say at the right hand of the Father not locally or limited, but I say that the right hand of God is without beginning and of eternal glory which the Son had before his incarnation and retained unchanged after the incarnation. His holy flesh is worshipped together with his divinity with reverent adoration, the Holy Trinity thereby receiving no addition. Let it not be! The Trinity remains the Trinity even after the union of the only-begotten Son, his holy flesh remains inseparable from him, and remains with him forever. With it he will come to judge the living and the dead, the just and sinners; to the just he will give the reward of their good deeds and the heavenly kingdom for which they labored here; to the wicked, eternal torment and the endless fire of Gehenna. May we all be granted to escape that torment, but rather may we inherit eternal and incorruptible good things in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
And immediately the presiding hierarch blesses the episcopal candidate in the form of a cross and says:
Presiding hierarch: The grace of the Holy Spirit be with you, enlightening, confirming, and filling you with understanding, all the days of your life.
Then the episcopal candidate is led to the head of the eagle and the archdeacon intones:
Archdeacon: The beloved of God, chosen and confirmed archimandrite [or: hieromonk; or: priest] (Name) is led forth for ordination to the rank of [Metropolitan Arch]Bishop of the God-saved city of (Name).
The episcopal candidate stands on the head of the eagle, and the presiding hierarch says to him:
Presiding hierarch: Reveal to us in greater detail how you profess the incarnation of the Hypostatic Son and Word of God.
The candidate immediately reads in a loud voice the third profession of faith as follows:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible; without beginning, unbegotten and without cause; essential principle and cause of the Son and the Spirit. And I believe in his only begotten Son, born from him without change and before all time, one in essence with him, and through whom all things were made. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from and is glorified with the Father, and with him is co-eternal and equally enthroned and one in essence, equally glorified, and with him the author of creation.
I believe that the one only begotten Word in the same super-essential and life-giving Trinity came down from heaven for us and for our salvation; and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; that is, he became perfect man while remaining God, nothing being changed or altered in his divine essence because of his union with the flesh, but without change he assumed human nature in which he endured suffering and death although in his divine nature he was free from all suffering. On the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
I believe in the teachings and explanations of the one catholic and apostolic Church which concern God and divine things.
Furthermore, I profess one hypostasis in the incarnate Word, and I believe and preach that in his incarnation Christ remains one and the same in the two natures in which and from which he is; I honor two wills because each nature retains its own proper will and its own proper energy.
I reverence with relative veneration, but never with divine worship, sacred and holy images, those of Christ himself, and of the most pure Mother of God, and of all the saints. The honor due to them I transfer to their prototypes. I reject all those ill-disposed persons who think otherwise.
I anathematize Arius and all who agree with him and all the opinions of the heretics. I anathematize Macedonius and his followers who are rightly called enemies of the Spirit. I also anathematize and reject Nestorius and all other heresiarchs, and all who agree with them. And I declare with a loud voice: Anathema to all heretics.
I profess solemnly and sincerely our Sovereign Lady, Mary the Theotokos, that she gave birth in the flesh to one of the Trinity, Christ our God. May she be my helper, protector, and mediator all the days of my life. Amen.
When this is completed, the presiding hierarch, blessing him, says:
Presiding hierarch: The grace of the Holy Spirit, through our humility, elevates you, the beloved of God, archimandrite [or: hieromonk; or: priest] (Name) to be the bishop of the God-saved city of (Name).
The episcopal candidate makes three bows to the hierarchs, and the archdeacon leads him up to the hierarchs, and the candidate hands them his written profession of faith, and kisses their right hands. And thus descending from the ambon the candidate makes a bow. And the presiding hierarch, signing him with his hand in the form of a cross, says:
Presiding hierarch: The grace of the Most Holy Spirit be with you.
Then the candidate is again led upon the orlets. The archdeacon intones this chant for long life:
To our holy father (Name), Pope of Rome, to our most reverend Metropolitan (Name), and to the all-honorable Father (Name), chosen to be bishop of the God-saved city of (Name), grant, O Lord, many years.
Response: God grant them many years. God grant them many years. God grant them many blessed years.
The ordaining bishops’ chairs are removed and the bishops, the candidate, and other clergy return to the high ambon in the center of the nave. The celebrant, concelebrants, and deacons begin “Heavenly King” and the other prayers of preparation for the Divine Liturgy.
After the “Time for the Lord to act” dialogue, the episcopal candidate enters the sanctuary by way of the southern door along with the first concelebrating priest. The episcopal candidate, however, goes to the diakonikon and remains there until the ordination. He does not take part in the Little Entrance.
Episcopal Ordination
After the Thrice-holy Hymn has been sung and before the clergy go to the chairs behind the holy table, the episcopal candidate is led forth by the archpriest and the archdeacon to the holy doors. There he is met by the presiding hierarch who leads him into the sanctuary and before the holy table. The ordaining bishops lead him around the holy table three times, and each time the episcopal candidate kisses the four corners of the holy table.
Meanwhile those in the sanctuary chant the troparia. During the first circuit:
(Troparion, Tone 7) O holy martyrs, * you have struggled courageously * and have received your crowns. * Pray to the Lord to have mercy on our souls.
During the second circuit:
(Troparion, Tone 7) Glory to you, O Christ our God, * boast of the apostles * and joy of the martyrs * who proclaimed the Trinity, one in essence.
During the third circuit, the following irmos is sung:
(Irmos, Tone 5) Rejoice, O Isaiah! The Virgin was with child and bore a Son, Emmanuel. He is God and Man. His name is Rising of the Sun. By extolling him, we bless the Virgin.
The episcopal candidate is led to where he will be ordained before the holy table. He removes his pectoral cross and phelonion. One of the ordaining bishops gives the episcopal candidate the epigonation.
Archdeacon: May the Lord God grant to his servant, the priest (Name), chosen to be bishop of the God-saved city of (Name), peace, health, and happiness for many years.
Response: God grant him many years. * God grant him many years. * God grant him many blessed years.
The presiding hierarch then gives him the pastoral staff saying:
Presiding hierarch: Take the pastoral staff, that you may feed the flock of Christ entrusted to you; and may you be a staff and support to those who are obedient. But lead the disobedient and the wayward to correction in gentleness and to obedience and they shall continue in due submission.
Immediately, the candidate kneels on both knees and surrenders the pastoral staff. In the midst of the ordaining bishops the candidate lays the palms of his hands on the holy table in the form of a cross, and places his forehead on his hands.
The ordaining bishops take the holy gospel, and opening it, they lay it, with the writing downward, upon the head of the episcopal candidate. Each with his left hand holding the holy gospel and his right hand on the head of the candidate beneath the book, the bishops say so that all may hear:
Ordaining bishops: By the appointment and approval of the Holy See of Rome:
Divine Grace, which always heals what is infirm and fulfills what is lacking, ordains the beloved of God, the Archimandrite, [or:the Hieromonk; or: the Priest] (Name), chosen to be the bishop of the God-saved city of (Name).
Therefore, let us pray for him, that the grace of the all-holy Spirit may come upon him and let us all say:
The bishops and priests in the sanctuary respond:
Concelebrating Bishops and Priests: Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
The ordaining bishops continue to hold the holy gospel, as the presiding hierarch signs the ordinand on the head with his right hand, blessing him three times and each time saying:
Presiding hierarch: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Three times)
The ordaining bishops lay their right hand on the head of the ordinand, while the presiding hierarch prays aloud:
Presiding hierarch: Master, Lord our God, through Your illustrious Apostle Paul, you have established the order of ranks and degrees for the service and divine celebration of your precious and most pure mysteries upon your holy altar: first, apostles; second, prophets; and third, teachers. You, O Master of all, by the descent, power, and grace of your Holy Spirit, strengthen this man whom you have chosen and made worthy of the yoke of the Gospel and of episcopal dignity through the imposition of the hands of us bishops here present.
As you strengthened your holy apostles and prophets, as you anointed kings, as you sanctified hierarchs, make his episcopacy blameless, adorn him with all honor, show him to be holy, so that he may be worthy to ask for that which is for the salvation of the people and you hear him.
For holy is your name and glorified is your kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Response: Amen.
Then one of the co-ordaining bishops intones the litany:
Bishop: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord, have mercy. (The same response is given to each of the following petitions:)
- For peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
- For peace in the whole world, for the stability of the holy Churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
- For our holy father (Name), Pope of Rome, for his priesthood, and for his protection, perseverance, peace, health, and salvation, and for the works of his hands, let us pray to the Lord.
- For the servant of God, (Name), now ordained bishop, and for his salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
- That our loving God may grant him a pure and blameless episcopacy, let us pray to the Lord.
- That we be delivered from all affliction, wrath, and need, let us pray to the Lord.
- Protect us, save us, have mercy on us, and preserve us, O God, by your grace.
- Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
Response: To you, O Lord.
The presiding hierarch, keeping his hand upon the head of the ordinand, prays aloud:
Presiding hierarch: Lord, our God, because human nature is incapable of enduring your divine essence, you, in your plan of salvation, appointed teachers for us, of like nature as ourselves, to stand before your altar to offer sacrifice and oblation for all your people. You, O Lord, make this man, who has been shown to be a steward of episcopal grace, an imitator of you, the true Shepherd, who lay down your life for your sheep ; a guide to the blind, a light to those in darkness, an instructor to the ignorant, a teacher to the young, a lamp to the world, so that, having perfected the souls entrusted to him in this present life, he may stand unashamed before your throne and receive the great reward which you have prepared for those who struggle for the preaching of your Gospel.
For yours are mercy and salvation, O our God, and we give glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Response: Amen.
The imposition of hands concludes, and the holy gospel is returned to the holy table.
Then the newly-ordained bishop is helped up.
The presiding hierarch takes the sakkos. The newly-ordained bishop kisses the sakkos and the presiding hierarch’s right hand, and the presiding hierarch places the sakkos on the newly-ordained bishop, saying in a loud voice:
Presiding hierarch: Axios!
Then those within the sanctuary sing:
Clergy: Axios! Axios! Axios!
Then the same is sung by the faithful:
Response: Axios! Axios! Axios!
Then the presiding hierarch takes the omophorion. The newly-ordained bishop kisses the omophorion and the presiding hierarch’s right hand, and the presiding hierarch vests him in the omophorion, saying in a loud voice:
Presiding hierarch: Axios!
Then those within the sanctuary sing:
Clergy: Axios! Axios! Axios!
Then the same is sung by the faithful:
Response: Axios! Axios! Axios!
Then the presiding hierarch takes the panaghia. The newly-ordained bishop kisses the panaghia and the presiding hierarch’s right hand, and the presiding hierarch places the panaghia around his neck, saying in a loud voice:
Presiding hierarch: Axios!
Then those within the sanctuary sing:
Clergy: Axios! Axios! Axios!
Then the same is sung by the faithful:
Response: Axios! Axios! Axios!
For an archbishop, the above is repeated for the pectoral cross.
Then the presiding hierarch takes the crown. The newly-ordained bishop kisses the crown and the presiding hierarch’s right hand, and the presiding hierarch puts the crown on his head, saying in a loud voice:
Presiding hierarch: Axios!
Then those within the sanctuary sing:
Clergy: Axios! Axios! Axios!
Then the same is sung by the faithful:
Response: Axios! Axios! Axios!
The newly-ordained bishop then exchanges the kiss of peace with the presiding hierarch and all the bishops.
After the kiss of peace, the presiding hierarch, bishops, and concelebrating priests go to the chairs behind the holy table. As they go, the first deacon calls the presiding hierarch to “command” and “bless the throne” as usual. The newly-ordained bishop stands in the place of the first concelebrating bishop.
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy continues as usual, however, the newly-ordained bishop performs the following:
- The blessing, “Peace be to all,” before the Prokeimenon;
- After the holy Gospel, the blessing of the faithful with the trikirion and dikirion, saying nothing (he also blesses the deacon who has read);
- The intonation of the doxology at the end of the Litany of Fervent Supplication;
- The incensing and taking of the chalice and the remembrance of all bishops other than the pope and then the remainder of the Great Entrance remembrances (while the presiding hierarch incenses and takes the diskos and remembers only the pope and the newly-ordained bishop);
- After the Great Entrance, the blessing of the faithful with the trikirion and dikirion, saying nothing; and
- The communicating of the (priests and) deacons with the chalice.
At the Great Entrance, the first concelebrating priest hands the chalice to the newly-ordained bishop, saying nothing.
At episcopal commemorations, the following wording is used: “our God-loving bishop (name of new ordinary), and the God-loving bishops (names).”
When it is time for the Ambon Prayer, a concelebrating priest (usually the youngest in ordination) passes through the holy doors and into the nave and, facing east, intones:
Concelebrant: Let us go forth in peace.
Response: In the name of the Lord.
First Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Response: Lord, have mercy.
The same concelebrant intones the following ambon prayer for the ordination of a bishop:
Concelebrant: Lord our God, Father of lights, giver of every good and perfect gift, in days of old you sent your Holy Spirit upon the prophet Moses and the seventy elders, and through your prophet Joel promised: I will pour out my spirit upon all people. In these, our days, you sent us your Word, the brightness of your glory and the imprint of your being. In the River Jordan, your Holy Spirit reposed on him, and he promised us another Advocate, the Spirit of Truth. Through your Spirit you have filled us with light and life, and have bestowed on mortal men a share in the high priesthood of your only-begotten Son, that they might serve at your holy altar and give us communion in the holy body and precious blood of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now, O Lord, fill your servant (Name), whom you have raised to the hierarchy, with the gift of your Holy Spirit. Make him an imitator of the Good Shepherd, perfect him with your grace, that he may lead your people to perfection. Grant him a long life in joy and in health, in service to your people, and in the contemplation of your holy mysteries.
For you alone are holy, and we glorify your holy name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, always, now and ever and forever.
Response: Amen.
[When the newly-ordained bishop is not the principal celebrant of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy but stands in the place of the first concelebrating bishop, the canonical enthronement takes place at this time following the Ambon Prayer. When one is to be enthroned who has been previously ordained to the episcopacy, the enthronement takes place immediately after the Thrice-holy Hymn.]
Canonical Enthronement
Immediately following the “Amen” that concludes the Ambon Prayer, the Metropolitan enters the sanctuary and leads the newly-ordained bishop to the central chair (throne) behind the holy table. If it is a Metropolitan who is being enthroned, the Apostolic Nuncio leads him and conducts the enthronement. Otherwise, the Apostolic Nuncio witnesses the enthronement.
The archdeacon says to the Metropolitan (aloud):
Archdeacon: Most Reverend Archbishop, command.
Metropolitan: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
The archdeacon, pointing to the throne, with three fingers holding the orarion, says (aloud):
Archdeacon: Most Reverend Archbishop, bless the throne.
The Metropolitan blesses the throne as he says:
Metropolitan: +Blessed are you on the throne of glory of your kingdom, enthroned upon the cherubim, always, now and ever and forever.
The Metropolitan escorts the bishop to be enthroned to the central chair and says:
Metropolitan: The God-loving Bishop (Name) [or: the most reverend Metropolitan (Name)] is enthroned as the (#) [Metropolitan Arch]Bishop of (Name). Axios!
Response: Axios! Axios! Axios!
The Metropolitan exchanges the kiss of peace with the newly-enthroned bishop and returns to his place. The newly-enthroned bishop exchanges the kiss of peace with the Council of Hierarchs and the clergy of his [Arch]Eparchy. During this time the faithful sing Psalms 132 and 133 or, throughout Pascha, the paschal stichera.
After the newly-enthroned bishop receives a sign of the promises of respect and obedience from his clergy, the Metropolitan takes the pastoral staff from before the icon of Christ, and gives it to the newly-enthroned bishop. He says:
Metropolitan: Receive this pastoral staff with which you are to watch over Christ’s flock that has been entrusted to your care. Axios!
Response: Axios! Axios! Axios!
The newly-enthroned bishop takes his pastoral staff.
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy concludes with the singing of “Blessed be the name of the Lord” (three times), or, in Bright Week, “Christ is risen from the dead” (three times). The newly-enthroned bishop blesses the faithful intoning “The blessing of the Lord be upon you” and the presiding hierarch intones the dismissal.
When the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy is finished, the bishops and priests unvest in the sanctuary.
After unvesting, the newly-ordained hierarch is led to the presiding hierarch. He puts the rason, panaghia, mandyas, and kamilavkion on the newly-ordained, blessing him with one hand as he does so; and he gives him a chotki. The hierarchs exit the sanctuary and ascend the high ambon in the center of the nave. The archpriest and the archdeacon lead him who has been ordained upon the ambon; and taking the pastoral staff, he blesses the faithful and departs with his retinue.