Statute 22

1Concerning the ordination of bishops and the proper order of the offering.

2The bishop shall be ordained as we have already said. He shall be one chosen by all the people together with the presbyters and deacons on the Sabbath day.

3All the bishops shall come by mutual agreement and lay their hands upon him. The presbyters shall stand nearby and remain silent, while all together keep silence and pray in their hearts that the Holy Spirit may help them and descend upon him. Each of the bishops shall pray, and each in turn shall stand and lay his hands upon the one being ordained bishop. They shall pray over him as follows:

4God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and Lord of all comfort, who dwell with the exalted and yet see the humble, and who knew all things before they came to pass: you gave an ordinance to the Church through the word of your grace. From the beginning you foreordained a family of righteous people. From Abraham you appointed judges and priests, and you did not leave your sanctuary without ministers. Since the creation of the world, you have desired to be glorified in the place you chose.

5Now pour out from yourself the power of the Holy Spirit, which you gave to your beloved Son Jesus Christ and which you grant to us, the holy Apostles, your helpers in your Church, working with the plough of your cross and in the place of your holiness. To you be glory and unceasing praise to your name.

6Give, O knower of hearts, and send the Holy Spirit upon your servant whom you have chosen for the office of bishop, so that he may shepherd your flock and minister as a priest to you without blame, serving you by day and by night and supplicating that he may worthily see your face. May he offer your offering in your holy Church and, in the Holy Spirit of the priesthood, have authority to forgive sin according to your commandment, to confer the ordination established by your ordinance, and to loose every bond of iniquity according to the authority you gave to your Apostles. May he please you through gentleness and purity of heart, offering you a sweet fragrance through your Son Jesus Christ, through whom be glory, power, and honor to you—to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—in your holy Church, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

7After the bishop has been ordained, each of them shall greet the one who has become bishop, and to whom this grace has been imparted, by kissing him on the mouth.

8The deacon shall bring the offering to him. Then the bishop, having laid his hand upon the offering together with all the holy ones and the presbyters, shall give thanks, saying: “The Lord be with you all.”

9The people shall say: “May he be perfectly with your spirit.”

10The bishop shall say: “Lift up your hearts.”

11All the people shall say: “We have them with the Lord our God.”

12The bishop shall say: “Let us give thanks to the Lord.”

13The people shall say: “It is right, fitting, and just.”

14Then the bishop shall say the words of the offering as follows:

15We give thanks to you, Lord, through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, whom in the last days you sent to us—your Son, a savior and redeemer, the messenger of your counsel. He is the Word who is from you, through whom, according to your will, you made all things. You sent your Son from heaven into the womb of the Virgin. He became flesh and was carried within her. Your Son was manifested by the Holy Spirit, having been born of a Virgin, so that he might fulfill your will and form a people for you.

16He spread out his hands for suffering so that he might release those who suffer and who trust in you. Of his own will he was delivered up to suffering, so that he might abolish death, break the bonds of Satan, trample Sheol underfoot, lead forth the holy ones, establish the covenant, and make known his resurrection.

17On the night when he was betrayed, he took bread, gave thanks, and said to them: “Take and eat. This is my body, which is broken for your sake for the remission of sin.” Likewise, after giving thanks over the cup, he said: “This is my blood, which is shed for your sake. Take and drink from it, and whenever you do this, make a memorial of me.”

18Therefore, remembering your death and your resurrection, we offer you this bread and this cup, giving thanks to you because you have made us worthy to stand before you and minister as priests to you.

19We pray and beseech you, Lord, to send your Holy Spirit upon this offering of the Church, so that, by joining them together, you may grant to all of them—to all who partake of it—that it may bring them holiness, fill them with the Holy Spirit, and strengthen their faith in truth, so that they may glorify and praise you through your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, through whom be glory and power to you in the holy Church, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

20Concerning the offering of oil.

21He shall offer oil in the same manner as the offering of bread and wine, giving thanks according to that ordinance. If he does not use the same words, he shall give thanks according to the particular meaning of each offering, while also saying these words:

22Having sanctified this oil, grant to all who are anointed with it or receive it that with which you anointed priests and prophets. Likewise, strengthen them and all who taste it, and sanctify those who receive it.

23The people shall say: “As it was, is, and shall be, from generation to generation and from age to age. Amen.”

24The bishop shall say: “Again we beseech you, almighty God, Father of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, to grant that we may receive this holy Mystery with blessing. Do not condemn any of us, but make all who partake of the holy Mystery—the body and blood of Christ—worthy, almighty Lord our God.”

25The deacon shall say: “Pray.”

26The bishop shall say: “Almighty God, grant us the reception of your holy Mystery for our strengthening. Do not condemn anyone among us, but bless all through Christ, through whom be glory and power to you, with him and with the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.”

27The deacon shall say: “As you stand, bow your heads.”

28The bishop shall say: “Eternal God, knower of what is secret and what is revealed, your people have bowed their heads to you, and before you they have bent the hardness of heart and flesh. Look down from your worthy dwelling place. Bless them, both men and women. Incline your ear toward them and hear their prayer. Strengthen them by the power of your right hand, protect them from evil sickness, and guard both body and soul. Increase in them, and also in us, faith in you and fear of you, through your only Son, through whom be glory and power to you, with him and with the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.”

29The deacon shall say: “Let us attend.”

30The bishop shall say: “Holiness to the holy ones.”

31The people shall say: “One holy Father, one holy Son, and one is the Holy Spirit.”

32The bishop shall say: “The Lord be with you all.”

33The people shall say: “With your spirit.”

34Then they shall raise their hands in praise, and the people shall come forward for the salvation of their souls, so that their sin may be forgiven.

35The prayer after they have received communion: “Almighty God, Father of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, we give you thanks because you have granted us the reception of the holy Mystery. Let it not bring guilt or condemnation, but renewal of soul, body, and spirit, through your only Son, through whom be glory and power to you, with him and with the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.”

36The people shall say: “Amen.”

37After they have received, the presbyter shall say the prayer for the laying on of the hand: “Eternal and almighty God, Father of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, bless your servants and your handmaids. Protect, help, and prosper them by the power of your Archangel. By your greatness, preserve and confirm your fear within them. Grant that they may think what is yours, believe what is yours, and will what is yours. Grant them peace without sin and anger, through your only Son, through whom be glory and power to you, with him and with the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.”

38The people shall say: “Amen.”

39The bishop shall say: “The Lord be with you all.”

40The people shall say: “With your spirit.”

41The deacon shall say: “Go forth in peace.”

42After this, the [Keddase] is finished.