www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization ByzanTEEN A prayer for altar servers?

A friend raised this question to me today: is there an "official" prayer of preparation for altar servers in the Byzantine tradition? The answer, as far as I know, is "no." No reason why a server couldn't pray Psalm 5,8ff just as the priest does when entering the holy altar to celebrate.

But I'm wondering what you current teens actually serving at the altar do to prepare. Has any server composed a prayer he'd be willing to share?

Dear Jackus,

At the church I serve in, it has been a long standing tradition for the altar servers after getting their blessing to vest, to recite the same prayer that a deacon or priest would recite before donning their sticharion. We even have the prayer framed in the area that they would vest so that they would not have to have it committed to memory or skip it.

At least in most Orthodox Churches, I am unaware of any preparatory prayers formally to be said by the altar servers. Somewhere there may be an actual sets of prayers, but if so it seems to have fallen into disuse in most parishes today.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

I've always thought it would be nice for the altar servers to get together in the sacristy before a Liturgy and have a brief prayer. It might put some of them in a more spiritual frame of mind.

I recall seeing something like this in the Coptic Church: after the Raising of Incense and the Hours, the "deacons" gather with the priest and kneel down while the priest reads a prayer and blesses them all with the hand cross to vest in the tonia and serve.

Come to think of it, the Prayer of the Little Entrance contains elements that would be appropriate for altar servers to consider:

Dave

Dear Friends,

This reminds me of a beautiful tradition at Pochaiv's Lavra that comes from an Athonite monastery.

At Pochaiv is a miraculous copy of the Athonite icon of the Theotokos "Gerondissa" or "Abbess."

The icon is situated on the throne of the Abbot at the Lavra.

Before the priests serve the Liturgy, they go before this Icon and say a prayer, much like they would seek the blessing of the Ihumen or Abbot before undertaking the liturgical work etc.

Alex

I have my own, it goes like this:
"Dear Lord please don't let me make any embarassising mistakes, start any fires or break anything"

Dear David,

I know that prayer well. When I was in seminary, I had to assist a priest in a mission parish. I made the mistake of lighting one charcoal over an open box. Well, when a spark went off and hit the box, the whole thing went like a Roman candle. I still rememeber the priest saying rather calmy and matter of factly, "You burn my church down, I'll make sure you'll never live to see the priesthood." Well, the fire was quickly put out, and that mistake was never repeated. Here I am today .

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Here's the prayer that's up at my church:

"Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, send forth your hand from the height of your dwelling place and prepare me for the service which I am to render to you.

Most Holy Mary, Godbearer, intercede together with all the saints. Keep my thoughts, words, and deeds pure so that I might worthily serve your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen"

Or something along those lines.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

The servers are to vest in cassocks, enter the sanctuary with the sticherion and ask for the blessing of the priest.

Then, as they are vesting in the sticherion, they should pray:

�My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He has clothed me with the garment of
salvation; He has covered me with the robe of gladness; as a bridegroom He has
set a crown on me; and as a bride adorns herself with jewels, so He has adorned
me with great beauty�.

Seems to work well for us.

Deacon El

What is a recommended prayer for Mary - Martha servers? Anything special for when these girls vest in stichera? This ministry is being promoted in the Eparchy of Parma (Ruthenian).

Joe

Vest in stichera? That sounds difficult, and with so many choices: at "Lord I have cried," the Aposticha, the Praises... :p

Sorry, sorry.

Dave

Any idea on the prayers for Mary-Martha servers? The eparchy promotes them. One would think there is a program and/or prayers they can use.

Let me know what prayers, if any, are for girl servers. Thanks,
Joe

I know I said I wouldn't post in here, but I decided to search and see what I found. For what it is worth...
Prayer for Altar Servers
http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english/p00490.htm
Helping Your Sons Serve in the Altar
http://www.theologic.com/oflweb/inchurch/sonsserve.htm
Altar Serves Handbook/Altar Server Pledge
http://www.stlukeorthodox.com/html/serverhandbook.cfm
Altar Servers
http://www.ststephenbyzantine.org/altar_servers.htm

Anyway maybe some of the teens can find something useful in here.

Pani Rose

Anything specific for those vested girls who assist the priest in the Byzantine Catholic Church? I can't imagine the church doing anything in a vacuum, so there must be some resource just for girls.

I'm gonna bite Joe--Is this widespread or isolated? And WHO in the eparchy is encouraging it?

My question was in regards to proper prayers for those girls who ALREADY vest for service at the liturgy.

Widespread or isolated? The answer is quite simple: it is permitted. Don't you support those girls who dedicate themselves to liturgical service?

The service of Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister is also permitted but not in the majority of the parishes as of yet. That both new traditions are growing in our church means that it is supported. And if supported, what resources such as prayers and programs are there?

You don't have anything against girls serving with vestments, do you?

Joe