The orders of priests and deacons are often mentioned in the N. Testament: and the church, as S. Thomas observes, instituted the inferior orders. Subdeacons are mentioned by Pope Cornelius and S. Cyprian in the 3rd century, as well as acolythes, exorcists, and lectors. S. Augustine and S. Gregory Nazianzen speak of _ostiarii_; and the clerical tonsure is mentioned by S. Isidore at the beginning of the 5th century, as a rite established before his time. Orders are conferred by the laying on of hands and prayer, as the scripture teaches, and also by the delivery of the instruments belonging to each order: appropriate exhortations addressed to the candidates for the different orders are interspersed with the prayers prescribed in the pontifical. (On their antiquity the reader may consult Morinus de Ordinationibus, Martene de Antiquis Eccl. Ritibus, T. 2. etc.) The tonsure is given after the _Kyrie eleison_ of the mass, the 4 minor orders after the _Gloria in excelsis_; subdeacons are ordained before the epistle, which one of them repeats; deacons after the epistle and finally priests after the first part of the tract. These last, after the imposition of hands, receive their peculiar vestments, viz. the stole hanging down in front, and the chasuble: their hands are anointed with oil of catechumens, and they receive a chalice containing wine and water, a paten with a host, and power to say mass. (Luke XXII, 19). After offerings of candle have been made to the ordaining Bishop, the new priests join him in saying mass[136]: and after the newly-ordained and baptised have communicated, the priests profess their faith by reciting the apostles' creed; they receive power to forgive and retain sins (John XX, 22, 23), they promise reverence and obedience to their ecclesiastical superior, and receive the bishops blessing, who then directs that masses and prayers be said by those whom he has ordained, and recommends himself to their prayers. In other respects the mass is similar to that of the Papal chapel[137]. Morcelli in his calendar in summing up the ceremonies of this day, having mentioned the station at S. John Lateran's, the baptism of Jews and Turks, and mass in the papal chapel, says that at the _Gloria, tonitrus tormentorum ab Arce fiunt, AEra templorum ac Turium sonant._ [Sidenote: Armenian Catholics:] Having spoken of the ceremonies of the Vatican and S. John Lateran's, we might consider our task as completed[138]. Yet one more _funzione_ attracts our countrymen on this day; and we are therefore unwilling to bid them farewell, before it is ended. Come then to S. Biagio or to S. Gregorio Illuminatore, to assist at the Armenian mass; and on the road we may talk of the venerable and amiable Fathers who perform that solemn service, and of the nature of their liturgy.