Etiquette and Protocol for Conducting Readings during the Synaxis
By Fr. Shnork Souin ? e-mail
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Preamble:
Being invited to be a reader or lector in the church is a sacred responsibility and a privilege. It is the opportunity to take part in the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ as a divinely ordained ministry dating back to the Old Covenant. One who is a lector can and ought to eventually receive the blessing and elevation by the Bishop to the Order of Lector, one of the 4 minor orders of the Armenian Church.
The ministry of lector is one of evangelism and is the first and critical pronouncement of God?s Word for the edification and education of His people, followed by the preaching of the priest which expounds on the readings. The spoken Word is then the first step of interpretation, dependant on a proper and appropriate tone, inflection, and posture. Although in our culture most people tend to read in solitude, the culture of the Old and New Testament as well as that of the Church, stresses the collective proclamation of God?s Word in the Assembly of believers for their hearing. Although it may seem surprising that the hearing of the Word is in some sense much more important than the reading of the Word, St. Paul putting great emphasis on this ministry says, that ?faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).?
The hearer or listener must feel invited into a living relationship with God?s Word, via the transmission of the sacred text of the daily lectionary.
The readings of the day are not arbitrary but are ordered canonically in what is called the Jashoo or Lectionary, containing all the prescribed readings from the Old and New Testaments, Epistles and Gospels for every day of the year. This particular Lectionary as used by the Armenian Church has its origins in the Jerusalem Lectionary from the time of St. Cyril of Jerusalem in the 4th Century.
Preparation:
As the readings are supplied to you at least some days in advance, it is only appropriate that the lector prepare herself by not only reading the texts a number of times, but pray with them and meditate on them to capture as much of the meaning as is possible.
If there are any words whose pronunciation are in question contact Der Hayr immediately for clarification.
Badarak begins at 10:00am sharp. As a steward and vital member of the daily liturgical celebration, the lector is expected to be present in the front pew, on the liturgical left (or right side viewed from the back of the church), vested in a choir robe from the beginning of the Divine Liturgy. If the reader is a woman, she may prefer to wear a veil at least just before entering the chancel and during the readings.
When to enter into the chancel:
When the priest elevates the Gospel book and says; ?Zee ko eh garoghootyoon yev zorootyoon yev park haveedyans. Amen?, found on page 13 of the pew Missal, the lector should reverently and slowly approach the chancel from the side and come to the front of the Bema with a slight bend of the knee or complete genuflection, making the sign of the Cross.
The Lesser Entrance:
The deacon receiving the Gospel will chant ?broskhoome? which means ?Be attentive?. The Gospel will be processed around the Altar with the singing of the Trisagion or ?Soorp Asdvads?, (page 14). The lector will cross herself each of the first 2 times that Soorp Asdvads is sung. When the Gospel arrives to the front of the Bema and facing the congregation, it will be offered to the lector to kiss. This coincides with the blessing by the priest and the 3rd singing of Soorp Asdvads where again the lector will cross herself for a third time, kissing the Gospel book.
This procession of the Gospel is called the Lesser Entrance which is understood to signify God?s revelation and giving of His Word to the world, first by the Law, then by the prophets, now fulfilled in the Gospels. This liturgical transaction is in prophetic counterpoint to the Greater Entrance which is the procession of the Bread and Wine offered for the Eucharist, understood to signify both the Birth and Incarnation of the Word, Jesus Christ, and the Funeral Procession. The Greater Entrance then is a sort of fulfillment of the Lesser Entrance, both equally important as God?s self revelation, in Christ, the Very Word and Son of God.
When the deacons begin to chant the petitions or diptychs (page 15), the lector may move next to the lectern or kragal, still facing the Altar.
Readings:
After the priest offers the doxology, following the deacons, the deacons will chant the Psalm appropriate to the day, beginning with ?Alleluia, alleluia?? (except during Lent).
At this point the lector shall turn and prepare to read.
Announcement or Proclamation:
In ascending priority, the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel shall be read.
1/ Old Testament Reading:
Say: A reading from the prophet ____________ . (Read Passage.)
2/ Epistle:
a/ If from St. Paul, say:
Today's lesson is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the _________ . or
Today's lesson is from the First (or Second) Epistle of St. Paul to the (Thessalonians or Corinthians).
b/ If from St. Peter, say: Today?s lesson is from the First (or Second) Epistle of St. Peter.
c/ If from St. John, say: Today?s lesson is from the First (or Second) Epistle of St. John.
3/ Gospel:
Cross yourself and say:
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew (or Mark, Luke or John)
At the conclusion, say: The Word of the Lord.
Conclusion:
Following the readings, remain in the chancel, face the Altar, hold hands together and remain until the conclusion of the Nicene Creed (page 18-19). Gently bow at each ?havadamk? which means, "We Believe" and when the Creed ends, you may Cross yourself.
When the priest has articulated the Doxology, ?Eesg mek paravoreststsook? and has kissed the Gospel, you may leave the chancel and disrobe
NB: If you are interested in becoming a lector or conducting a reading on an occasional basis, at St. Mary please e-mail Der Hayr.
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