_And after the prayer the Archpriest openeth the book of the apostles over the head of the reader. And the subdeacons conduct him from the Archpriest, and place him in the middle of the church, with his face towards the east, and give him the book of the apostles, and he readeth thus, The reading of the message of the holy apostle Paul to the Romans (or, to others). And he readeth the portion of the epistle that is appointed, from the beginning to the end, and turneth himself and boweth thrice to the Archpriest according to rite. And the subdeacons take off from him the phelonion, and conduct him to the Archpriest. And the Archpriest again signeth his head thrice with the hand. And they bring the sticharion to the Archpriest, and he signeth the sticharion with his hand over the cross. And he that hath been appointed, having signed himself with his hand, kisseth the cross upon the sticharion, and the hand of the Archpriest; and the subdeacons vest him with the sticharion. And the Archpriest addresseth him on this wise,_ Child, the first degree of the priesthood is that of reader. Therefore it becometh thee to read every day in the divine scriptures, that they that hear, considering thee, may receive edification, and that thou, in nowise shaming thine election, mayest prepare thyself for a more advanced degree. For, living temperately, holily, and righteously, thou shalt gain the mercy of the man-loving God, and make thyself worthy of a higher ministry, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory to ages of ages. Amen. _Then the Archpriest saith on this wise,_ Blessed be the Lord, lo, the servant of God, _name_, becometh reader of the most holy church, _name_, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. _And the Archpriest giveth him a lamp, and he standeth before the Archpriest with the lamp in the indicated place._ _And if there be several readers to receive the laying on of hands they receive this together, and the prayer is said in the plural._ THE OFFICE THAT IS USED AT THE LAYING ON OF HANDS OF A SUBDEACON. _Now if on the same day he is to receive the laying on of hands for the subdiaconate, after the investing with the sticharion, the subdeacons bring a sticharion-girdle to the Archpriest. And the Archpriest maketh the sign of the cross upon the girdle, and he that is to receive the laying on of hands kisseth the girdle, and the hand of the Archpriest, and they gird him. And the Archpriest signeth him with the hand upon the head thrice. After this the protodeacon saith_, Let us pray to the Lord. _And the Archpriest, having laid his hand upon him, saith this prayer._