Chapter 24

1Concerning the ordination of Deacons. And if the bishop desires to ordain a deacon, he shall choose (him) as we have already said ; and the bishop alone shall lay his hand upon his head. Why do we say that the bishop alone is he who lays his hand upon him ? For a sign it is of this thing, that he was not ordg^ined for priesthood, but only for the service of the bishop, that he may perform the commandment with which he was commanded by him. And he was not ordained to be the teacher of all those who are in Orders, but to be one who will think of what is proper (to be done) and will inform the bishop. And he was not ordained to acquire the great Spirit of which the presbyters partake, but to occupy himself with that which is proper, that the bishop may trust him, and that he may acquaint the bishop with that which is fitting (for him to know). The bishop is he alone who shall lay his hand upon him ; whereas for the presbyters indeed,^ the bishop and all the presbyters take part with him, and they shall s lay their hands upon him, for it is one (and the same) Spirit which descends upon him (and them). And the presbyter alone shall not do it ; nor have the ordained clergy power to ordain : and because of this the reader also and the subdeacon shall not be ordained by the presbyter alone, but the bishop alone shall ordain and lay his hand upon him. The prayer of the ordination of deacons : God, who hast created all, and by thy word hast set (it) in order, the Father of our Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ, whom thou sentest that he might minister according to thy will, and reveal to us thy secret counsel ; g^rant spirit and grace and diligence unto this thy servant whom thou hast chosen to be a deacon in our Church, and to offer in thy holy of holies * that which is offered to thee by thine ordained Chief Priests to the glory of thy name ; thus without blame in pure life having served the degrees of ordination he may obtain the exalted priesthood and thy honour, and glorify thee, through thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom to thee with him (be) glory and as might and power and praise with the Holy Spirit now, etc.