Hierarchical Divine Liturgy NOTE: In most cases, only rubrics that are unique to the Bishop’s presence are noted here. 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 the Kingdom…” 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. The Priest takes his place on the south side of the Holy Table facing north. The Deacon intones the Great Ektenia. At the commemoration of the Hierarchs, the Deacon turns, points his orarion and bows to the Bishop being commemorated while the Priest bows from the Royal Doors., and the choir quickly sings, "Eis polls eti, Despota." At the conclusion of the Ektenia, the Priest moves in front of the Holy Table to intone the exclamation. This process is repeated after each Ektenia. During the singing of the Antiphon, the first Deacon moves from the Icon of Christ back to his place near the Bishop, while the second Priest and second Deacon approach the Bishop, make one metania, ask the Bishop’s blessing and kiss his right hand. The second Priest proceeds through the Royal Doors and the second Deacon proceeds to stand before the Icon of the Theotokos. If there is only one Deacon serving, a Subdeacon may be asked to do this. If there is no Subdeacon, the Deacon remains in his place before the Icon of Christ and from there intones the two Little Ektenias. Prior to intoning each of the Little Ektenias, the Deacon turns and bows to the Bishop. The second Priest intones the exclamation after the first Little Ektenia and the third Priest after the second Little Ektenia. After the Priest intones the last exclamation, the Priest and both Deacons bow together to the Bishop and the Deacons enter the Altar through the Royal Doors. The first Deacon gives the Trikirion to the second Deacon and they take their places at the southwest and northwest corners of the Holy Table. The Little Entrance is made with the first Deacon carrying the Gospel Book and the second Deacon carrying both Trikirion and Dikirion. The first Deacon passes behind the Bishop and goes to his right side. The second Deacon stops on the Bishop’s left side. The Deacon takes his orarion off of the Gospel, places the Gospel over his left shoulder, points his orarion at the Royal Doors and says to the Bishop, “Bless, Master, the holy Entrance.” The Deacon replaces the orarion over the Gospel while the Bishop blesses the Entrance. The Deacon offers the Gospel Book for veneration by the Bishop, himself kissing the Bishop’s right hand. The first Deacon turns and faces the Royal Doors while the second Deacon gives the Trikirion and the Dikirion to the Bishop, himself kissing the Bishop’s hand. Once the apolytikion is complete, the first Deacon elevates the Gospel Book and intones, “Wisdom! Stand aright!” He immediately enters the Altar through the Royal Doors and holds the Gospel Book on at the southwest corner of the Holy Table while the Bishop chants the Entrance Hymn. As the Bishop blesses the people, they sing “Eis polla eti, Dhespota.” The Bishop then enters the Altar through the Royal Doors, followed by the second Deacon and then the Priests. The Bishop hands the Trikirion and Dikirion to the Deacons, and takes the Gospel Book from the first deacon while the Choir sings the apolytikion. The Deacons stand behind the Altar, with Trikirion and Dikirion in hand, while the Bishop takes up the censer and the staff. The Bishop censes around the Holy Table, with the Deacons staying opposite him. When he turns to cense the Prothesis Table, the Deacons exit the Altar through the Royal Doors and stand on the solea facing east. The First Deacon near the Icon of the Theotokos and the second Deacon near the Icon of Christ. After the Bishop completes the censing, the Deacons cross sides and enter the Altar through the Royal Doors with the first Deacon at the southwest corner and the second Deacon at the northwest corner. The Bishop chants the Kontakion. Then the first Deacon with Trikirion in hand, turns toward the west and says, in a loud voice, “Let us pray to the Lord.” The Bishop does the exclamation and the second Deacon with Dikirion in hand, turns toward the west and finishes with “and unto ages of ages.” The Thrice-Holy Hymn is augmented as follows: People: Holy God, Holy Mighty, etc. The second Deacon hands the Dikirion to the Bishop, kissing the Bishop’s hand. Clergy: Holy God, Holy Mighty, etc. People: Holy God, Holy Mighty, etc. The first Deacon hands the Trikirion to the Bishop, kissing the Bishop’s hand. Clergy: Holy God, Holy Mighty, etc. People: Glory to Father, etc. Holy Immortal: Have mercy on us. During the Glory the Deacons, with nothing in hand, proceed out through the Royal Doors, switching sides and taking their places on the Solea. The First Deacon near the Icon of the Theotokos and the second Deacon near the Icon of Christ. People: Holy God. Bishop: O Lord, O Lord, look down from Heaven, etc. People: Eis polla eti, Dhespota. Holy Mighty. Bishop: O Lord, O Lord, look down from Heaven, etc. People: Eis polla eti, Dhespota. Holy Immortal. Bishop: O Lord, O Lord, look down from Heaven, etc. The Bishop hands the Trikirion and Dikirion to the Deacons; they switch sides and enter the Altar through the Royal Doors. People: Eis polla eti, Dhespota. Have mercy on us. Facing west, with Trikirion in hand, the first Deacon says: Deacon: With strength. People: With strength. Holy God, Holy Mighty, etc. Facing west, with Trikirion in hand, the first Deacon says: Deacon: O Lord, save the faithful. People: O Lord, save the faithful. Facing west, with Dikirion in hand, the second Deacon says: Deacon: O Lord, save those of true worship. People: O Lord, save those of true worship. Facing west, with Trikirion in hand, the first Deacon says: Deacon: And hear us. People: And hear us. If the metropolitan of the archdiocese is the main celebrant, the metropolitan's Phimi is chanted here. Click here for details. During the Epistle Reading, the junior Deacon takes the censer, and, with Trikirion or Dikirion in hand, asks the Bishop’s Blessing on the incense. The Deacon censes the four sides of the Holy Table, the Prothesis, the High Place and gives up the censer. Then the Bishop takes the Gospel Book and hands it to whomever will read the Gospel Reading who says to the Bishop, “Bless, Master, him who proclaims …” After receiving the blessing, he kisses the Bishop’s right hand and proceeds to the place where he will read the Gospel. The Bishop gives the Peace at the end of the Epistle and before the Gospel. At the beginning of the Gospel Reading (after saying “Let us Attend”), the Deacons set the Trikirion and Dikirion on the Holy Table. Following the Gospel reading, the Bishop blesses the Priest/Deacon saying: “Peace be to thee that proclaimest the Gospel.” Then the choir sings “Glory to Thee, O Lord, Glory to Thee,” as the Bishop takes the Gospel Book, blesses the people and replaces it on the Holy Table. The Bishop does the censing during the Cherubic Hymn. The Deacons stand behind the Altar, with Trikirion and Dikirion in hand, while the Bishop takes up the censer and the staff. The Bishop censes around the Holy Table, with the Deacons staying opposite him. When he turns to cense the Prothesis Table, the Deacons exit the Altar through the Royal Doors and stand on the Solea facing east. The First Deacon near the Icon of the Theotokos and the second Deacon near the Icon of Christ. After the Bishop completes the censing, the Deacons cross sides and enter the Altar through the Royal Doors. A Subdeacon (If there is no Subdeacon, this is done by the junior Deacon) takes a water pitcher, basin, and towel, exits the south door and meets the Bishop in the Royal Doors where he pours water three times into the Bishop’s hands. Then he offers the towel to the Bishop who dries his hands, gives the towel back to the Subdeacon (or Deacon) and blesses the people. The Bishop and all of the clergy, after kissing the Antimins, proceed to the Prothesis Table. At the Prothesis Table the Priests form a line, in order of seniority, and the Deacons form another line in order of seniority. While the Bishop commemorates the Clergy, by name, each Priest and Deacon approaches the Bishop, kisses his shoulder, and says quietly, “Thine Episcopate, the Lord God remember…” Once all of the Living and Departed commemorations are complete, the Bishop and the first Deacon finish the Proskomedia. The second Deacon takes the censer from the Bishop, himself kissing the Bishop’s right hand, and takes the Trikirion and the third Deacon (or a Subdeacon) takes the Dikirion. The Bishop offers the aer to the first Deacon to kiss and then drapes it over his shoulders. He then offers the diskos to the Deacon who takes it, kisses his right hand, and says quietly, “Thine Episcopate, the Lord God remember…” The Bishop offers the chalice to the first Priest who takes it, kisses his right hand, and says quietly, “Thine Episcopate, the Lord God remember…” All remaining Priests come forward to receive spoons, spears, crosses, etc.