NOTE: In most cases, only rubrics that are unique to the Bishop’s presence are noted here.

 

 

After the bishop ascends the hierarchical throne, the first priest and first deacon approach the bishop and, together, make one metania, ask the bishop’s blessing and venerate his right hand, followed by the second priest and second deacon, who do the same, and the remainder of the clergy from senior to junior. The first priest proceeds through the Holy Doors and takes his position in front of the Holy Table and the first deacon proceeds to the his place on the center of the solea. The second deacon proceeds through the Holy Doors and takes his position at the northwest corner of the Holy Table. All other serving clergy proceed through the south door, vest and take their places at the Holy Table.

 

After making three metanias in their respective places, the priest and the deacon bow together to the bishop and then the deacon says in a loud voice, “Bless, Master!” After the priest completes, “Blessed is our God…” the deacon and the priest turn and bow together to the bishop. The bow to the bishop is repeated after every exclamation by the priest throughout the entire service. The priest takes his place on the south side of the Holy Table facing north. (NOTE: The priest stands to south side and leaves the center of the Holy Table open at all times except when he is reciting lines that are for priests; those are said from the front of the Holy Table.)

 

At the commemoration of the hierarchs, in the great ektenia, the deacon turns, points his orarion and bows to the Bishop being commemoratedwhile the priest bows from the Holy Doors, and the choir quickly sings, "Eis polls eti, Despota." At the conclusion of the ektenia, the deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ and the priest moves in front of the Holy Table to intone the exclamation. After the priest intones the exclamation, the deacon bows to the bishop, enters the Altar through the south door and takes the censer as the chanters begin, “O Lord, I have cried…” 

 

The deacon, without asking the priest’s blessing on the incense, does the great censing. After censing the Holy Table, the prothesis, and the high place, he exits the Altar through the north door. He asks the bishop’s blessing on the incense and censes him three times. After censing the icons on the iconostasis and the west of the church, he censes the bishop nine times (three sets of three), the clergy around the hierarchical throne, the people, and the bishop nine times, again. He completes the censing in the usual manner.

 

The Little Entrance is made with the deacon stopping in his usual place on the solea and the priest proceeding to the hierarchical throne and standing on the bishop’s right side. The deacon asks the bishop’s blessing on the incense, censes him three times. He censes the icons on the iconostasis and the west of the church, he censes the bishop nine times (three sets of three), the clergy around the hierarchical throne, the people, and the bishop nine times, again. Then, moving the censer to his left hand, he takes his orarion in his right hand, points it toward the Royal Doors, and looking at the Bishop says quietly, “Bless, Master, the Holy Entrance.” The bishop blesses the Entrance. The deacon puts the end of his orarion back over his left arm and elevates the censer in his right hand. When the chanters finish the Theotokion, he intones, “Wisdom, stand aright!” The entrance is completed in the usual manner, with the priest making a metania, asking the bishop's blessing and kissing his right hand, prior to entering the altar through the Holy Doors. The priests approach the bishop in pairs, making one metania, asking the bishop’s blessing and entering the altar through the Holy Doors. The deacon, standing in front of the Holy Table, censes the front of the Holy Table, the Holy Prothesis, the high place, the priests twice and everyone else in the altar once.

 

The bishop gives the Peace after the Litany of Supplication. At the dismissal, the deacon intones, “Wisdom!” with the people’s response being, “Master, Bless.” The bishop says all of the remaining lines including the final dismissal. After the commemoration of the saints of the day, the people chant, “Ton dhespotin ke Archierea imon Kyrie philate: Eis polla eti, Dhespota. Eis polla eti, Dhespota. Eis polla eti, Dhespota.” The bishop intones, “Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers…” after which the priest intones, “Through the prayers of our Holy Master…”