_And they make the rite, as before written. And they sing the same without. Then the Archpriest riseth, and they remove the throne, and he that is receiving the laying on of hands goeth to the right side of the Archpriest, and boweth himself before the holy table thrice, saying_, O God, cleanse me, a sinner. _And, bending the right knee, he placeth his palms crosswise on the holy table, and layeth also his forehead between his hands on the holy table. The Archpriest placeth the end of the omophorion on the head of him that it receiving the laying on of hands, and blesseth him upon the head thrice. And the protodeacon or the deacon having said_, Let us attend, _the Archpriest, holding his hand upon his head, readeth aloud in the hearing of all them that stand in the altar,_ The divine grace, which always remedieth that which is feeble, and supplieth that which is lacking, layeth hands upon, _name_, the most pious subdeacon to be deacon: let us therefore pray for him, that the grace of the all-holy Spirit may come upon him. _And the priests within sing, from the right hand side_, Lord, have mercy, _thrice. Then again, from the left hand side, the same thrice. And the singers without, in the right and left choirs_, Kyrie eleison, _antiphonally thrice slowly, while the Archpriest readeth the prayer. Then the Archpriest blesseth him upon the head thrice, holding his hand upon the head of him that is receiving the laying on of hands. The protodeacon saith_, Let us pray to the Lord, _in a low voice._ _And the Archpriest saith the prayer secretly._ O Lord our God, who, by thy foreknowledge sendest the gift of thy holy Spirit on them that are destined, by thine unsearchable might, to be ministers, and to serve at thy spotless mysteries; do thou thyself, O Master, preserve in every virtue this man whom thou art well-pleased to lay hands upon by me for the ministry of the diaconate, he holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Give unto him the grace which thou gavest to thy protomartyr Stephen, whom thou didst first call to the work of thy ministry; and make him worthy to use, as may be acceptable unto thee, the degree which, by thy goodness, is given unto him (for they that minister well prepare for themselves a good degree); and do thou declare him thy perfect servant. _Exclamation._ For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.