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Can anyone take me through the service for the Ordination of a reader in the Orthodox church particularly Serbian. Also what is a reader supposed to wear ?

The bishop says a prayer over the candidate and his hair is cut. He then is vested with a short version of the phlenion (chasuble) and goes into the centre of the church and reads a small section of scripture till he is told to stop.

He then vests in the sticharion and serves the liturgy.

The reader normally vests in the sticharion.

The reader needs to be wearing a cassock first?

When I was tonsured/ordained, Just before the liturgy began, Metropolitan Nicholas had me approach him at the altar, where he gave me the blessing to wear the cassock then had me sit in the congregation (1st pew) at the time of tonsuring I was lead up by the proto-deacon, and following the cutting of hair with the exclamation of Axios I was vested in the sticharion and following the reading the section of scripture went and joined serving the liturgy. I have heard of the short version of the phlenion being used, but it was not with me and I have never actually seen it.

Reader Christopher

I remember the time that a Jesuit presented himself to Bishop Isidore for cheirothesia as a Reader. The Bishop refused to proceed until the candidate was properly dressed in a cassock.

It is not unusual for the candidate to have a short phelonion made, use it for the cheirothesia, and then retain it as a remembrance.

Fr. Serge

One version:


[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

See other pictures (click thumbnails to expand) at this link [patronagechurch.com] .

Thank you for sharing Fr. Deacon! Seeing pictures of St. Mary's in Scranton brought back a flood of memories from my 4 years there!

Reader Christopher