Newsletter: May 2005

Concerning Subdeacons

This month we continue our series on Holy Orders, and other ministries in the Church with the office of Subdeacon.

Like the reader, a subdeacon is ordained by the bishop just before the start of the Divine Liturgy. (To be ordained a subdeacon, a man must first have been tonsured a Reader.) The task of a subdeacon is, the ordination prayer says, to “stand before the doors of God’s holy temple and kindle the lamps”. That is, his job is to aid the Deacon in the service of the altar, lighting and bearing candles, fetching and returning the censer for the deacon, and generally assisting in the smooth functioning of the service. (The importance of their office is seen most clearly when they serve—busily—when a bishop presides.)

Prior to the Divine Liturgy, the candidate is brought to the bishop, before whom he makes a prostration. The bishop blesses the stichar and the orar (that is, the vestment and stole that the subdeacons wear) and girds the candidate in these vestments. The bishop then signs the candidate thrice with the sign of the Cross, lays his hands upon him, and prays the ordination prayer, asking that God may preserve the candidate uncondemned in all things and may grant that he love the beauty of God’s House. After this prayer, the new subdeacon washes the bishop’s hands in preparation for the Liturgy.

Subdeacons, being clergy, were the subject of many canons. It was assumed that they were adults (canon 15 of the Trullan council sets twenty years of age as the minimum) and married (canon 13 of the same council allows them to keep their wives after ordination). Although canon 6 of that council declares that subdeacons may not marry after their ordination to the subdiaconate, the Archdiocese of Canada (among others) allows subsequent marriage by economy.

The adult nature of the Subdiaconate (along with canons regulating this office) witness to the importance and gravity of serving in thealtar. Serving in the altar (what is sometimes called “serving as altar boy”) is not to be undertaken lightly, much less considered the “right” of any just because of gender. Originally, children were not admitted to such ordained service, and it was recognized that serving at the altar was one’s life ministry in the Church. That is, one planned one’s life—and marriage!—around such work. Here at St. Herman’s, while recognizing that church offices undergo development, we attempt to be true to this original vision of respect for the holy altar.

All my love in the Lord,

Fr. Lawrence

DUAL TAPE DECK NEEDED TO BORROW

I would like to borrow a dual tape deck and copy a few tapes if anyone has one that they could lend me for a couple of weeks.
Thank you,
Mother Anna

Pascha Services

Sat. Apr 30:

• 10:00 pm Baptism & Chrismation
• 11:30 pm Paschal Liturgy & blessing of baskets

Sunday May 1:

• 4:00 pm Paschal Vespers & blessing of baskets followed by Parish Paschal Feast
• NOTE: NO Liturgy at 10.00 am this day

Community Announcements

1. BASKET BLESSING : Please bring your baskets to be blessed after the Paschal Liturgy (Apr 30/May1). If for some reason you cannot be at the liturgy or must leave early, there will be another opportunity have your basket blessed at Paschal Vespers 4 pm May 1.

2. WEDDING Mon. May 23 10:30 a.m. Matrimonial Liturgy for Gregory and Rhiannon at Holy Resurrection Church 43^rd St. & Quebec, Vancouver. See attached notice.

Fasting Rules for May 2005

With the encouragement of H.G. Bp. SERAPHIM, it is our local custom to keep the ancient practice of dispensing with all fasting between Pascha and Ascension Day (June 9 this year.)

Many Years!

To the newly enlightened servants of God received into the Holy Orthodox Church this Pascha:

• Syd
  
• Biss
• Melissa