St Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church Serving with Two

ST MARY’S BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH ALTAR SERVER’S MANUAL— VOLUME 2 SERVING WITH TWO DEACONS

INTRODUCTION

When there are two deacons serving in the Divine Liturgy, the responsibilities of the servers change. For instance, there will be two kadillos and the deacons will be entering and leaving through both doors. This booklet is a quick and unofficial guide for servers when there are two deacons. This booklet does not represent the official position of the Eparchy of Passaic or the pastor or St. Mary’s. It is meant to be an aide for those who generously give their time to faithfully serve the Lord at the Liturgy, or, the “work of the people”.

PREPARING FOR THE DIVINE LITURGY

When two deacons are serving at the Divine Liturgy, both kadillos must be lit by the servers prior to the service. If you are not sure, light both kadillos.

DEFINITIONS

The first deacon always stands to the right of the celebrating priest. The second deacon stands to the left of the celebrating priest. The first deacon always leaves and enters through the door on his side, the deacon door on the right of the icon of Christ (the South Door.) The second deacon always leaves and enters through the deacon door to the left of the icon of the Theotokos (the North Door)

You will need to be attentive since when there is only one deacon attending at the Divine Liturgy, the deacon will leave the side of the priest, go around the altar and leave through the South Door. You will have plenty of time to react. When there are two deacons attending, they will quickly head for the doors on their side. They will also return through these doors.

INCENSING

Both deacons will incense at all times, so the servers on the North side of the altar will need to remember to get the second deacon a kadillo. A word of caution: a server never swings the kadillo forward and back unless there is a special situation. That is considered incensing, and is reserved for the priest and deacons. If you are attempting to incite the charcoal or the incense, the kadillo is to be swung only to the right to left moderately.

PROCESSIONS

Processions are a little tricky when there are two deacons. The second deacon always carries the kadillo, so the kadillo comes from the servers on the North side of the altar. During the first procession, the first deacon will carry the Gospel book, with the second deacon immediately in front of him carrying the kadillo.

During the second procession, the second deacon will carry the kadillo, that comes from the servers on the North Side. The first server, who normally stands to the right of the first deacon and carries the kadillo in the procession, will carry a candle or the rapidia, as assigned by the senior server.

2 WHAT’S WHAT AROUND THE ALTAR?

KADILLO—ALWAYS use the rings and chains to give it to the Priest or Deacon. NEVER touch the kadillo itself. It may have been used already and it can be VERY HOT. YOU WILL GET BURNED SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL!

RAPIDIA—The Deacons’ Fans. If both are not used, they are not used at all. In procession, they are after the candles. When you replace them, please make sure they are both per- fectly straight. If the procession cross is used, the servers that will carry the rapidia will take those first, then the server at the head of the procession will take the processional cross. When it comes time to put them back, the processional cross goes back first, followed by the rapidia.

THE DOORS, THE DOORS!

THE ROYAL DOORS The South Deacon The North Deacon Door. The Door. The First Dea- Second Deacon always leaves con always returns and returns through this door and leaves through this door.

4 SAMPLE PROCESSION LINE UP

Procession Cross

Candles

Rapidia

Second Deacon with kadillo

First deacon with either Gosepl book or diskos.

Priests

5 BUT WAIT A MINUTE, SUPPOSE WE HAVE....

TWO OR MORE PRIESTS? They are called concelebrants. They will stand to the right and then left of the altar. Nothing really changes for the servers. The Priests always go last in Procession. You just have to be careful because sometimes they will move around the altar, and you may need to move.

MORE THAN TWO DEACONS? The third and fourth deacon will always carry the rapidia. The rapidia are really symbols of the office of the deacon. However, since we very rarely have here or four deacons serving at the Divine Liturgy , it became the tradition for the servers to carry the kadillo. A third Now you will really have to work. There will be two kadillos. The Deacons will always come in and out of BOTH DOORS. The Second Deacon, who stands to the left of the priest, carries the kadillo in the processions, right in front of the first Deacon. Good luck today!

SUBDEACONS? A subdeacon becomes the senior server. They can be distinguished from a deacon because their orarions are always crossed through out the service ( like the deacon crosses his orari- on during the Our Father. Subdeacons always precede the deacons in procession. We need to be alert for this, as our bishops are once again ordaining subdeacons.

A NEW DEACON YOU DON’T KNOW? Walk right up, say “Glory to Jesus Christ!, My name is….. How can I help?”. It is very common to have visiting deacons, especially when the bishop visits.

DEACON MARK’S TEN SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT NOT TO DO WHILE YOU ARE SERVING. (All things Deacon Mark has seen, but understands Boys will be Boys.)

10. No Punching in the Procession line.

9. No Playing with the lighters. Use them to light the kadillo and then put them down.

8. Laying on the benches during the Homily. I know mine are boring, but some of the other Priests and Deacons might not be so understanding.

7. Walking around during the Homily. You know, you might want to sit and Listen. You might learn something.

6. Drinking a gallon of water before the Divine Liturgy. We know what happens later.

5. Not paying attention.

4. Walking around while the Priest or Deacon is incensing. You could get clunked!

3. Talking to other Servers while you are standing at the Altar and the Divine Liturgy is going on. The Priest is Praying for everyone. We are just trying to help him.

4. Fidgeting. I know standing during the Service is long, but we are doing it for God’s people.

3. No playing with the Kadillo, the lighter and the charcoal. Nothing good can come from that except getting burned.

2, Leaving the altar during the Divine Liturgy. Unless it is a real emergency.

And my favorite….

1. Procession candles are not Light Sabers. You are not Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I am not Darth Vader. Please hold the candles upright, with the bulb at your nose. May the True Light be with you.