One of the aspects of the liturgical tradition of the usus antiquior that strikes many new observers to the traditional rites are the ceremonies that accompany the vesting of a prelate. While these are sometimes done within the privacy of the sacristy or separate chapel, other times they are done in full view of the faithful. This is my own personal preference as these ceremonies are prayerful and rich in their symbolism. Many mistakingly assume that these ceremonies are somehow unique the Latin rite or that they represent some sort of Western baroque accretion. In point of fact such ceremonies can be found not only in the Latin rite but also within the Christian East. For comparison I thought some of our readers might be interested to see this rich and symbolic ceremonial vesting, Eastern and Western. We begin with the East, coming within the context of the Russian tradition.
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Here follow the Byzantine prayers for the same.
Zone: Blessed is God, who girdeth thee with power and hath made thy path blameless, who hath guided thy feet like those of a hart, and hath set thee on high places.
Right Epimanikion: Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; thy right hand, O Lord, hath shattered thine enemies, and in the multitude of Thy glory hast thou crushed thine adversaries.
Left Epimanikion: His hands have made and fashioned thee: may He give thee understanding and mayest thou learn His commandments.
Palitsa: Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, in thy comeliness and thy beauty, and proceed prosperously, and be kind because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall guide thee wondrously. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Sakkos: Thy high priests, O Lord, shall be clothed with righteousness, and thy holy ones shall rejoice with joy, always, now and ever and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Omophorion: When Thou didst take upon they shoulders human nature which had gone astray, O Christ, Thou didst take upon Thy shoulders human nature which had gone astray, O Christ, Thou didst bear it to heaven unto Thy God and Father. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Pectoral Cross: Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
(First) Panagia: May God create in thee a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within thee. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
One can clearly see the common thread that unites these two traditions.
I had mentioned before that there are prayers associated with these different vestments that are prayed during these ceremonies and I have included these below, beginning with those of the Roman rite.
Ad Caligas Calcea, Domine, pedes meos in praeparationem evangelii pacis, et protege me in velamento alarum tuarum. | The Buskins Shod my feet, Lord, unto the preparation of the gospel of peace, and protect me under the cover of thy wings. (Ephesians 6, 15 and Psalm 60, 5) | |
Cum exuitur Cappa Exue me, Domine, veterem hominem cum moribus et actibus suis: et indue me novum hominem, qui secundum Deum creatus est in justitia, et sanctitate veritatis. | When the Cappa is removed Take off of me, Lord, the old man with his manners and deeds: and put on me the new man, who according to God is created in justice, and the holiness of truth. (Ephesians 4, 22 and 24) | |
Cum lavat manus Da, Domine, virtutem manibus meis ad abstergendam omnem maculam immundam; ut sine pollutione mentis et corporis valeam tibi servire. | When he washes his hands Give strength to my hands, Lord, to wash away every unclean stain; that I may be able to serve Thee without defilement of mind or body. | |
Ad Amictum Impone, Domine, galeam salutis in capite meo, ad expugnandas omnes diabolicas fraudes, inimicorum omnium versutias superando. | At the Amice Place the helmet of salvation, Lord, upon my head, to overthrow all the deceits of the devil, prevailing against the cunning of all enemies. (Ephesians 6, 17) | |
Ad Albam Dealba me, Domine, et a delicto meo munda me; ut cum his, qui stolas suas dealbaverunt in sanguine Agni, gaudiis perfruar sempiternis. | At the Alb Wash me clean, Lord, and cleanse me from my sin; that I may rejoice and be glad unendingly with them that have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. (Psalm 50, 3 and Apocalypse 7, 14) | |
Ad Cingulum Praecinge me, Domine, cingulo fidei et virtute castitatis lumbos meos, et extingue in eis humorem libidinis; ut jugiter maneat in me vigor totius castitatis. | At the Cincture Gird me, Lord, with the belt of faith, my loins with the virtue of chastity, and extinguish in them the humour of lust; that the strength of all chastity may ever abide in me. | |
Cum accipit Crucem pectoralem Munire digneris me, Domine Jesu Christe, ab omnibus insidiis inimicorum omnium, signo sanctissimae Crucis tuae: ac concedere digneris mihi indigno servo tuo, ut sicut hanc Crucem, Sanctorum tuorum reliquiis refertam, ante pectus meum teneo, sic semper mente retineam et memoriam passionis, et sanctorum victorias Martyrum. | When he receives the Pectoral Cross Deign Thou, Lord Jesus Christ, to guard me, from all the snares of every enemy, by the sign of Thy most holy Cross: and deign Thou to grant to me, Thy unworthy servant, that as I hold before my breast this Cross with the relics of Thy Saints within it, so may I ever keep in mind the memory of the Passion, and the victories of the Holy Martyrs. | |
Ad Stolam Redde mihi, Domine, obsecro, stolam immortalitatis, quam perdidi in praevaricatione primi parentis; et, quamvis indignus accedere praesumo ad tuum sacrum mysterium cum hoc ornamento, praesta, ut in eodem in perpetuum merear laetari. | At the Stole Restore to me, Lord, I beseech Thee, the stole of immortality, which I lost in the transgression of the first father; and, though unworthy I presume to approach Thy sacred mystery with this garment, grant that I may merit to rejoice in it forever. | |
Ad Tunicellam Tunica jucunditatis, et indumento laetitiae induat me Dominus. | At the Tunicle May the Lord cloth me in the tunicle of delight, and the garment of rejoicing. | |
Ad Dalmaticam Indue me, Domine, indumento salutis et vestimento laetitiae; et dalmatica justitiae circumda me semper. | At the Dalmatic Cloth me, Lord, with the garment of salvation, and the raiment of joy; and ever place upon me the dalmatic of justice. | |
Ad Chirothecas Circumda, Domine, manus meas munditia novi hominis, qui de caelo descendit; ut, quemadmodum Jacob dilectus tuus pelliculis hoedorum opertis manibus, paternam benedictionem, oblato patri cibo potuque gratissimo, impetravit; sic et oblata per manus nostras salutaris hostia, gratiae tuae benedictionem mereatur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui in similitudinem carnis peccati pro nobis obtulit semetipsum. | At the Gloves Place upon my hands, Lord, the cleanliness of the new man, that came down from heaven; that, just as Jacob Thy beloved, covering his hands with the skins of goats, and offering to his father most pleasing food and drink, obtained his father’s blessing, so also may the saving victim offered by our hands, merit the blessing of Thy grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who in the likeness of sinful flesh offered Himself for us. (Genesis 27, 6-29 and Romans 8, 3) | |
Ad Planetam Domine, qui dixisti: Jugum meum suave est, et onus meum leve: fac, ut illud portare sic valeam, quod possim consequi tuam gratiam. | At the Chasuble O Lord, who said: my yoke is sweet and my burden light: grant that I may be able so to bear it, so that I may be able to obtain Thy grace. (St. Matthew 11, 30) | |
Ad Mitram Mitram, Domine, et salutis galeam impone capiti meo; ut contra antiqui hostis omniumque inimicorum meorum insidias inoffensus evadam. | At the Mitre Place upon my head, Lord, the mitre and helmet of salvation; that I may go forth unhindered against the snares of the ancient foe, and of all my enemies. (Ephesians 6, 17) | |
Ad Anulum Cordis et corporis mei, Domine, digitos virtute decora, et septiformis Spiritus sanctificatione circumda. | At the Ring Adorn with virtue, Lord, the fingers of my body and of my heart, and place upon them the sanctification of the sevenfold Spirit. | |
Ad Manipulum Merear, precor, Domine, manipulum portare mente flebili; ut cum exsultatione portionem accipiam cum justis. | At the Maniple I pray Thee , Lord, that I may merit to bear the maniple in lamentation; that with joyfulness I may receive a portion among the just. (Psalm 125, 67) |
As each vestment is put on, the first deacon says "Let us pray to the Lord," and the protodeacon recites each appropriate vesting prayer.
Epitrachelion: Blessed is God, who poureth out His grace upon His high priests, as oil of myrrh upon the head, which runneth down upon thy beard, upon the beard of Aaron, which runneth down to the fringe of his raiment.
Epitrachelion: Blessed is God, who poureth out His grace upon His high priests, as oil of myrrh upon the head, which runneth down upon thy beard, upon the beard of Aaron, which runneth down to the fringe of his raiment.
Zone: Blessed is God, who girdeth thee with power and hath made thy path blameless, who hath guided thy feet like those of a hart, and hath set thee on high places.
Right Epimanikion: Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; thy right hand, O Lord, hath shattered thine enemies, and in the multitude of Thy glory hast thou crushed thine adversaries.
Left Epimanikion: His hands have made and fashioned thee: may He give thee understanding and mayest thou learn His commandments.
Palitsa: Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, in thy comeliness and thy beauty, and proceed prosperously, and be kind because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall guide thee wondrously. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Sakkos: Thy high priests, O Lord, shall be clothed with righteousness, and thy holy ones shall rejoice with joy, always, now and ever and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Omophorion: When Thou didst take upon they shoulders human nature which had gone astray, O Christ, Thou didst take upon Thy shoulders human nature which had gone astray, O Christ, Thou didst bear it to heaven unto Thy God and Father. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Pectoral Cross: Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
(First) Panagia: May God create in thee a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within thee. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
If the bishop has the dignity of a second Panagia: Thy heart hath poured forth a good word; thou wilt speak of thy works to the king. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Mitre: The Lord has set upon thin head a crown of precious stones; thou didst ask like of him, and he gaveth thee length of days. Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
