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Avram

Posts: 7

Joined: Apr 17, 2003

Posted: Jun 28, 2004 - 03:03 PM

Hello all,

I've had this question for some time now and I wanted to bounce it off the people on this forum:

My question is about the deacon that holds a cross, candle and a "lefafa" at the end of the liturgy and says the final confession after abouna (Amen Amen Amen, I believe I believe I believe...). Can someone walk me through everything that this deacon is supposed to do after that?

Here's what I want to know:

1. Does he take communion first?

2. Where does he stand after taking communion (while the other deacons are taking communion in the altar)?

3. When abouna takes the Body of Christ and goes around the altar then outside to give communion to the congregation, does the deacon follow him around? Then afterwards, where does he stand? What does he face (and what does he give his back to)?

4. When abouna is done giving the Body and returns back to the altar to finish it, where does that deacon stand?

5. When abouna gets the Blood of Christ and walks out to give the Blood to the congregation, where does the deacon stand? What does he face?

6. During this deacon's service, does he cover his head with something? (I've seen that done once)

7. When is this deacon's job over? When does he put down this "gear"?

8. Extra credit: what does this deacon symbolize? What's he actually doing there?

Please state if your reply is your opinion, what you've seen done, or if it is an official stand of the church. If you can site some sources too, I would love you!

I'm waiting for answers; till then, I'll be holding my "gear" and going around in circles...

Thanks,
Avram

CopticEgyBrother911

Posts: 1187

Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Location: St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Posted: Jun 28, 2004 - 05:47 PM

I will answer this to the best i know..

1. Yes, he is the first to take communion after the Priests and Clergy..

2. THe Deacon stands in the Opening of the Santuary facing inward towards the altar.

3. When the Priest leaves to go administer the Body and Blood, the Deacon precedes him walking backward facing the Body or Blood. There, he stands to the right of the priest, first making sure none of the congregants have their shoes on.. and that none of the holies are dropped.

4. When the Priest enters and is entirely done with the communion.. the deacon stand next to him next to the altar. There the priest cleans the platter, chalice etc... and the deacon there holds the cross upside down and with the lafefa. Pointing out to the priest if he has missed any of the body.

5. See question 3.

6. THe highest deacon in the altar is the one that says the confession, so in churches where an Arch-Deacon is serving, he is wearing something.. so naturally you might have seen it.

7. The Deacons job is done when abouna finishes cleaning everything, and drinking the water used to clean everything, and says the blessing. Then iv seen deacons dry the platter, chalice.. etc.

8. The Deacon there is confessing to the almighty on behalf of the congregation and deacons. I am sure there is more depth into this, and perhaps another member can provide more.

Your Humble Servant,

_________________
John Sidhom
Iwannyc

Omonogenyc `uioc ke lojoc tou ;eou `a;anatoc `upar,wn ke kata dexamenoc Dia tyn `ymeteran cwtyrian carkw;yne tyc `agiac ;e`otokou ke `a`i par;enou Mariac.

"Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in him." - Proverbs 30:5

Avram

Posts: 7

Joined: Apr 17, 2003

Posted: Jun 28, 2004 - 06:06 PM

Thanks for the comprehensive reply, John. Let me pick your brain a bit more though.

In number 3. when the priest takes the Body and goes outside the altar to administer it, shouldn't there be someone standing in front of the Blood? Is that the job of another deacon then? Does that deacon face the Blood giving his back to the Body?

The way it's done in my church, is that the deacon saying the confession will stand behind abouna, then when abouna takes the Body and leaves the altar that deacon will proceed him like you said, but then will go back and stand at the same place so as to face the Blood. My problem is that by doing this, the deacon is giving his back to the Body.

Do you know of a resource or book or something that might outline this for me?

Avram

CopticEgyBrother911

Posts: 1187

Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Location: St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Posted: Jun 28, 2004 - 06:38 PM

there is a quick response for this.. basically another deacon, kneels or stands in front of the blood with a candle, until the Priest returns..

Mathitis

Posts: 1623

Joined: Oct 07, 2003
Location: "Legitimate" Business Headquarters

Posted: Jun 28, 2004 - 08:08 PM

Or, if there are 2 priests, both the Body and the Blood are given at roughly the same time; The Body before the Blood of course.

CopticEgyBrother911

Posts: 1187

Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Location: St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

Posted: Jun 28, 2004 - 08:22 PM

Yes this is often what happens when there is more then one clergy member, first the highest ranked Clergy, takes out the Body, and administers it to all the rest of the Clergy, then he takes out the blood, and Administers it to the Clergy, then gives it to another priest or clergy who can administer it at the same time

ABasanti

Posts: 191

Joined: Feb 22, 2004

Posted: Jun 28, 2004 - 08:36 PM

Jus to reply on ur question, that when the priest goes outside with the body and there is still the blood left on the altar a deacon (any deacon) stands in front of the altar like abouna does during the whole mass. If the blood and body are gone there is no need for a deacon to stand there however there is if there is body and blood in the "chalice" for sick people.

Mathitis

Posts: 1623

Joined: Oct 07, 2003
Location: "Legitimate" Business Headquarters

Posted: Jun 28, 2004 - 08:56 PM

CopticEgyBrother911 wrote:

From my own experience, the clergy members first give themselves the Body, and then one of the priests take out the blood and starts to give it out to the congregation after the body has been given around. The rank really doesn't matter. The only thing is that the only priest who can give the Body out is the one who washed his hands.

ABasanti ,
You are right. Also, there should be only 2 candles lit in the altar. One for the Body, and one for the Blood. The one for the Body si the one who has that triangular thing.

Matt

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shakoosh

Posts: 205

Joined: Mar 03, 2003
Location: New Jersey

Posted: Jun 29, 2004 - 06:35 AM

Mathitis wrote:

More specifically, the priest that administers the Body is called the serving priest. Rank does not matter hear altough the serving priest should be the highest rank (or most elder) but he can pass this Blessing on to any other priest in attendance. Also, members of clergy of the same rank do not administer the Body or Blood to each other. Only someone of higher rank is to give you the Body or Blood (ie...a bishop to a priest....the pope to a bishop). However, only the serving priest can touch the Body. If there is another priest praying the Liturgy, the serving priest will place a piece of the Body on the spoon and the other priest will receive the Body that way. The priests though take the Blood themselves.

I hope this clarifies some things...

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