Prayers of the Rite for the Consecration of Deaconesses
Prayers of the Rite for the Consecration of Deaconesses
O Lord, wise in His counsel, who created mankind male and female, and created them both in His image and likeness, and granted them the same blessing and the same authority over all creatures.
O Lord, who granted prophecy to Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron, to Deborah, to Huldah, and Anna the daughter of Phanuel, and permitted Philip the Evangelist to have virgin daughters who prophesied.
You who poured out Your Holy Spirit upon both men and women, and granted to woman, as to man, the gifts of the Spirit…
O Lord, who permitted Mary Magdalene to be sent to proclaim Your glorious Resurrection to Your holy apostles, and who permitted Phoebe to be appointed a deaconess in Your holy Church.
As You permitted in former times, O Lord, permit today also that woman may participate in Your ministry, and make us worthy to complete this service without falling into condemnation before You, and pour out the grace of Your Holy Spirit upon these Your maidservants, by grace and mercies…
O Lord God, who does not reject women who offer themselves, according to the agreement of the divine will, to serve in Your holy places, but permitted that they be called Your servants. Grant the grace of the Holy Spirit to these Your maidservants, who desire to offer themselves to You, that they may fulfill Your ministry, just as You granted the grace of this ministry to Your servant Phoebe, whom You called to work in Your Church, and who became a helper to Your servant Paul the Apostle. Pour upon them Your holy gifts, by the grace and mercies belonging to Your Only-Begotten Son…
O Eternal Lord, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of man and woman, who filled Miriam, Deborah, Anna, and Huldah with the Spirit, who did not disdain that His Only-Begotten Son should be born of a woman, and who in the Tabernacle of Witness and in the Temple appointed women as guardians of Your holy doors.
Now look upon these Your maidservants who have been called to the ministry of the diaconate. Grant them the grace of the Holy Spirit, and purify them from every defilement of body and spirit, so that worthily they may fulfill the work entrusted to them.
To You be glory and worship, together with Your Only-Begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen…
O holy and almighty Lord God, who sanctified women through the birth of Your Only-Begotten Son from a Virgin according to the flesh…
You who granted the grace of the Holy Spirit not only to men, but also to women…
Now, O Lord, look upon these Your maidservants… Call them to the ministry, and send down upon them the rich gift of Your Holy Spirit.
Preserve them in the Orthodox faith, continually fulfilling Your ministry blamelessly according to Your good pleasure, for to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
O holy and exalted God, who looks upon the humble, who chose the weak and the strong, and honored those who are in humility.
Send forth, O Lord, the grace of Your Holy Spirit upon these Your maidservants. Strengthen them in Your truth. If they walk according to Your commandments and serve in the house of Your holiness, they shall become vessels of honor for the glorification of Your name.
- The Rest of the Prayers of the Rite for the Consecration of Deaconesses
Grant them, O Lord, strength, that they may walk with rejoicing according to Your teachings which You established as a law for their ministry. Grant them, O Lord, the spirit of humility, strength, endurance, and patience. If they bear Your yoke with indescribable joy and endure struggle patiently, they shall receive the crowns of ministry.
Yes, O Lord God, knower of our weakness, perfect Your maidservants, that they may praise in Your house, minister to women, visit the sick and those absent from the church, minister to the poor and needy, assist on the day of the baptism of adult women, instruct the catechumens, and arrange the women in the church. Strengthen them for edification and as a good example. Sanctify them, enlighten them, and grant them courage. For Your Kingdom is blessed and glorified, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Hear, O Lord, our prayers, and send upon them a blessing from the Holy Spirit, that they may fulfill Your ministry without falling into condemnation and may present an example of holy life. Bless them, O Lord, these whom You have purchased with the precious Blood.
You who granted Anna the daughter of Phanuel to spend eighty-four years in her widowhood, worshipping in the Temple blamelessly, grant Your maidservants grace to preserve their vows before You and to live in chastity and purity, in obedience to Your commandments and faithfulness in ministry.
Grant that they may live as brides for You alone by the grace of Your Holy Spirit, for Yours is the glory now and forever.
Pray to the Lord.
For the peace of the holy catholic and apostolic Church (Lord have mercy).
For the ministry of women in the Church, and for the poor, the sick, and the catechumens.
For these widows and virgins who have come forward to the ministry of the diaconate, with commendation from their churches… that the Lord may grant them grace and strength, and bless their ministry, just as He formerly blessed the ministry of Phoebe (Lord, have mercy).
Finally, make us worthy to say with thanksgiving: “Our Father…”.
After this, the bishop signs them, saying to each one: “You are called, O (name), deaconess in the holy Church, in the Church of… in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”.
Then he blesses the garments designated for the ministry, that they may wear them.
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