SERVING WITH MULTIPLE DEACONS

From the Greek-language "Hierodiakonikon" published by
The Holy Monastery of Simonos Petras
'Panselinos' - Karyes, The Holy Mountain, 1989

 

Two Deacons¹ at Great Vespers

Deacon 1 says the Litany of Peace. If appointed, the Little Litany is said by Deacon 2. Deacon 1 does the great censing on "Let my prayer arise" (or this great censing may be done by both Deacons 1 and 2 simultaneously). Deacon 1 makes the entrance with the censer and says "Wisdom. Stand upright." Deacon 2 says "The evening prokeimenon." The "Wisdom. Let us attend" before each of the Old Testament readings is said alternately by both Deacons 1 and 2 (beginning with Deacon 2). Deacon 1 says the Ektenia "Let us all say." Deacon 2 says the Litany of Supplication "Let us complete our evening prayer" and "Bow your heads." Following the apolytikia, Deacon 1 says "Wisdom."

Two Deacons at Litia and Artoklasia

In the Litia, both Deacons 1 and 2 carry censers and cense the festal icon as it is carried to its place by the senior priest. The petitions of the Ektenia are said alternately by both Deacons 1 and 2 (beginning with Deacon 1). In the Artoklasia, Deacon 2 stands opposite the priest during the censing around the table. Deacon 1 says the "Let us pray to the Lord" before the blessing of the loaves, wheat, wine and oil, and that which precedes "The blessing of the Lord and his mercy."

Two Deacons at Orthros

After the anavathmoi and the prokeimenon, Deacon 2 says "Let us pray to the Lord" and all which precedes the gospel, except that Deacon 1 says the "Let us attend" which immediately precedes the chanting of the gospel by the priest. Deacon 1 says the Intercession "O God, save thy people." If appointed, the censing on the First Ode of the Canon and the Little Litany following the Third Ode of the Canon is done by Deacon 2. At the Ninth Ode, Deacon 1 says "The Theotokos and Mother of the Light," does the great censing (or this great censing may be done by both Deacons 1 and 2 simultaneously), and says the Little Litany which follows. Following the Great Doxology, Deacon 1 says the Ektenia "Have mercy on us." Deacon 2 says the Litany of Supplication "Let us complete" and "Let us bow our heads." Deacon 1 says "Wisdom."

Two Deacons at Divine Liturgy²

At Kairon, Deacon 1 stands to the immediate right of the Protos and Deacon 2 stands to the immediate left of the Protos. The concelebrating priests stand, according to their seniority, to the right of Deacon 1 and to the left of Deacon 2. Deacon 1 says "Bless, father (master)," "All-holy Trinity" through the "Our Father." He also says "Glory ... O Lord, have mercy on us." Deacon 2 says "Both now ... Open unto us." Deacon 1 says "Lord, have mercy" (12 times), and "Glory...Both now." The apolytikia are said alternately by both Deacons 1 and 2 (beginning with Deacon 1 saying, "We reverence thine immaculate icon"). Deacon 1 says "Let us pray to the Lord" and Deacon 2 says "Lord, have mercy." Deacon 1 says the "Glory" and what follows at the dismissal.

Deacon 2 assists the priest at the Proskomedia and does the great censing which concludes it (or this great censing may be done by both Deacons 1 and 2 simultaneously).

Deacon 1 says "It is time for the Lord to act" and all which follows through the Litany of Peace. Deacon 2 does the two Little Litanies. At the Little Entrance Deacon 1 carries the book of holy gospels and Deacon 2 carries the processional cross. Deacon 1 says "Wisdom. Stand upright" and the "Let us pray to the Lord" which immediately follows the chanting of the kontakion. Deacon 2 says "And unto ages of ages" which immediately precedes the chanting of the Thrice-Holy Hymn. Deacon 1 says "With strength,"³ "Command, master" and "Bless, master, the throne on high."

Deacon 2 says that which introduces the epistle "Let us attend. Wisdom. Let us attend." But if Deacon 2 is appointed to chant the epistle, Deacon 1 says all which introduces it. Deacon 2 does the censing during the Alleluia before the gospel. Deacon 1 asks the blessing of the Protos to read the gospel. Deacon 2 says that which introduces the gospel "Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us hear the holy gospel." After Deacon 1 says "The reading from the holy gospel according to (N.)," Deacon 2 says "Let us attend." Then Deacon 1 chants the gospel.

Deacon 1 says the Ektenia of Fervent Supplication "Let us all say." Deacon 2 says the Litany for the Catechumens and the First and Second Litanies of the Faithful.

If the Protos does not do the censing at the Cherubic Hymn, it is done by both Deacons 1 & 2 simultaneously, or by Deacon 1 alone. Deacon 1 reverences the holy table and goes to the prothesis with the Protos, while Deacon 2 does so with the second priest. In the Great Entrance, Deacon 2 carries the censer (and wears the aer if the Divine Liturgy is part of an All-night Vigil) and censes Deacon 1 who, wearing the aer (if the Divine Liturgy is not part of an All-night Vigil), carries the diskos and says "All of you." Deacon 1 says "Do good, master" and the remainder of the dialogue with the Protos, as well as the Litany of Supplication "Let us complete our prayer" and all which follows through "Let us stand aright" which begins the Holy Anaphora. Deacon 2 handles the star at the chanting of "Holy, holy, holy." Both Deacons 1 and 2 simultaneously point to the holy gifts with their oraria. Deacon 1 elevates the chalice and diskos at "Thine own of thine own." The dialogue with the Protos during the Anaphora, the censing after "Especially our all-holy" and the reading of the diptychs ending with "And for those who offer these precious and holy gifts" is all done by Deacon 1. Deacon 2 says the Litany before the Our Father "Having commemorated all the saints" and what follows through the "Let us attend" which introduces "The Holy Things are for the holy" by the Protos. Deacon 1 says "Divide, master" and all through "With fear of God." Deacons 1 and 2 hold the kalima at the chalice while the priest communes the faithful.⁴ Deacon 1 carries the chalice into the sanctuary, places it upon the holy table and wipes into it the particles remaining on the diskos while saying "By thy precious Blood." Deacon 1 says "Exalt, master" and, preceded by Deacon 2 with the censer, carries the chalice to and places it upon the prothesis. Deacon 1 says the Litany of Thanksgiving "Stand upright. "Having partaken" and the two concluding "Let us pray to the Lord." Both Deacons 1 and 2 ask the blessing of the Protos to consume the remaining Holy Gifts. Deacon 2 tidies the prothesis after the Holy Gifts are consumed, and replenishes the water and wine in the cruets.

Notes

1) If there are three or more deacons at a divine service, Deacon 1 does all which is appointed to him and uses his discretion in assigning to the other Deacons those things which in the following text are appointed for Deacon 2.

2) If there are three or more deacons at a Divine Liturgy, Deacon 1 does most of that which is appointed to him except as noted herein. Deacon 2 says the first Little Litany, "And unto ages of ages," [at an hierarchical Divine Liturgy the "And hear us,"] the epistle (if it is to be chanted by a Deacon), "Wisdom. Attend. Let us hear the holy gospel," the Litany for the Catechumens, handles the star during the Holy Anaphora, and says the Litany before the Our Father "Having commemorated all the saints." Deacon 3 says the second Little Litany, [at an hierarchical Divine Liturgy he says "O Lord, save those of true worship,"] the "Let us attend. Wisdom. Let us attend" which introduces the epistle, does the censing during the Alleluia, and says "Let us attend" which immediately precedes the chanting of the holy gospel by Deacon 1. If there are four or more deacons at a Divine Liturgy, Deacon 1 does most of that which is appointed to him except as noted above, and uses his discretion in assigning duties to the other Deacons.

3) At an Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Deacon 1 says the first "O Lord, save the pious," Deacon 2 says the second "O Lord, save the pious," Deacon 1 says "O Lord, save those of true worship," and Deacon 2 says "And hear us." If the hierarch's Phimi is to be proclaimed, it is done so by Deacon 1.

4) If multiple chalices are needed but there are not enough bishops or priests to commune the people from them, a Deacon may be blessed to do so by the bishop.