Page 107 - The Sacred and Divine Liturgy

The Hierarchical Liturgy
THE PRIESTS, having been asked to serve, and having re­ ceived the blessing from the Hierarch, take kairos and vest fully. The priest assigned to perform the proskomidi (prothesis) does so until the entrance of the Hierarch into the temple. Be­ fore the entrance of the Hierarch into the temple (the holy doors are opened), all the priests gather to await him. The most senior priests stand at the entrance. When the Hierarch puts on the mantle (mandyas), the most senior priest offers him the cross while the deacon censes him. The people chant: It is truly right... (or eirmos of the feast, if there is one). The clergy then enter the nave (with the youngest in seniority going first) fol­ lowed by the Hierarch who in turn blesses the people.1 Upon arriving at the solea, the priests enter into the altar through the northern and southern doors. The Hierarch together with the deacon takes kairos, and then ascends the ambon and blesses the people, during which is sung: Ton despotin... and then, at the deacon’s beaconing: Come out, O priests, the priests emerge carrying the mitre and vestments.2 During this time, the chant­ ers sing The prophets from above or the Dogmatic Theotokion of the 8th mode (Plagal Fourth).3 When the Hierarch has been vested and his hands have been washed, the deacon carrying
1 Činovnik Arhijerejskog sveštenosluženja za prezvitersku i đakonsku upotrebu, Kraljevo, 2009, p. 7.
2 V. Nikolajević, Veliki tipik, p. 264.
3 Insofar as matins is sung immediately before the liturgy, there is then no need
for awaiting the Hierarch in front of the temple, nor the chanting of It is truly right nor the Dogmatic Theotokion of the 8th mode, but rather the Hierarch takes kairos and vests during the singing of the ordinary morning stichera.
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