
PATRIARCHAL INSTRUCTION ON THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
AT THE
CONFERRAL OF THE MINOR ORDERS
At the commissioning and ordaining to the Minor Orders, the laying on
of hands at the ordination to the order of Sub-Deacon and the order
of Acolytes shall be with two hands. The laying on of hands for the
orders of Porter, Lector, and Exorcist shall be with the right hand
only, and with the left hand the Bishop shall hold forward so that
the ordinand may touch with his right hand an appropriate symbol of
office according to his ministry as follows:
Porter: A key or keys, which may be actual functioning keys or a
symbolic one.
Lector: A copy of the breviary or a lectionary containing the
readings from the Divine Offices.
Exorcist: A copy of the rites of exorcism or a copy of the Rituale
Anglicanum in which said rites of exorcism are contained.
And for the office of Acolyte, the Bishop shall first place into the
right hand of the ordinand a single candlestick, with an extinguished
candle; and into the left hand an empty cruet. This shall be done
saying nothing, and, with the ordinand holding the candlestick and
cruet, the Bishop proceeds with the laying on of both hands. After
the laying on of hands, the Bishops takes back the candlestick and
cruet and either hands them to his attendant or, if there are other
acolytes to commission and ordain, he presents them similarly to the
next ordinand.
But note that in cases of just cause and need, the above may be
omitted and the laying on of hands may be done with two hands in all cases.