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Altar Boy Guide
Altar Boy Guide
1. Introduction
This is the Altar Servers’ Handbook for 2010. It is to serve as a guide for all
of the responsibilities for the boys and men who will serve in the altar of
our parish. Enclosed you will find the information you need in order to
serve every week, as well as things that altar servers ought to know. At the
end, you will find some things that are very necessary each week, and in
order to live a Godly and Orthodox lifestyle. If there are any questions,
each server is invited to ask Father at any time. From time to time, changes
may be made to this Handbook, and every server will be told.
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Ss Peter & Paul Orthodox Church Altar Servers’ Handbook
2. Ground Rules
1. Learn the order of the Divine Liturgy so that you know what comes next.
This is included at the end of the Handbook.
2. Memorize the Creed and Lord's Prayer. These are also included at the end
of the Handbook.
3. Servers must be vested at least 5 minutes before the beginning of the
Liturgy, if they are not in Sunday School.
4. If you are scheduled for a position on a particular Sunday, please do your
best to make it to Church. Attendance is necessary each week for every
Orthodox Christian. You don’t want to know what the Church says
happens after three weeks of missing Church!
5. No shorts. You ought to be in Sunday clothes to show proper respect for
God and the holy work you are about to do.
6. No sitting in the Altar. Stand in a neat and orderly manner in the Altar
when not assigned to do something else.
7. The bathroom should be used only when absolutely necessary. (Remove
your robe before entering).
8. Sing & Pray along with the Priest and keep your mind on the service. As
visible servers in the parish, your behavior in the Altar will be a strong
example to the parish family.
9. Unnecessary talking and fooling around will be grounds for suspension.
(Reinstatement will be made under the discretion of the priest).
10. Never touch the Altar Table of Table of Oblation – this for the clergy only.
Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men
abhorred the offering of the LORD. 1 Samuel 2.17
Vespers
Orthodox life is one of constant preparation and fulfillment. That is why attendance at
Vespers is crucial to our relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, altar servers can spend
more time in the Holy Altar by serving at Vespers when it is offered.
Schedules
Again, everybody who is properly prepared may serve in the Altar, every week. The four
main positions will be scheduled, and are your responsibility to fulfill. If you are unable
to do so, please make sure that your job is filled by someone who is properly trained,
knowledgeable, and attending the Divine Liturgy.
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Bread Cutter
The server assigned to this job will be responsible for the following additional
responsibilities each week:
Cutting up the antidoron
Keeping the table clean
Making sure the Hot Water is turned on and ready for the Priest
Preparing the Zupifka (Wine and Bread) for after communion
Cleaning the dishes
Make sure there are a few pieces of bread and a cup of wine for the Priest
North Door
This server is stationed by the North Door. He is responsible for opening and closing
the North Door and Royal Door, and for closing the curtain. He is also responsible for
assisting with the commemorations that are brought into the altar during the Divine
Liturgy.
Censer
This server is responsible for handling the censer for the entirety of the Liturgy. He must
be familiar with the order of the service, and the times when the censer is needed by the
priest. He also needs to ensure that the censer is prepared for the Requiem Service
(Panikhida) after the Liturgy, if there is one scheduled. He also carries the censer at the
Great Entrance.
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Little Entrance
Candles
Gospel reading
F F
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Ss Peter & Paul Orthodox Church Altar Servers’ Handbook
Great Entrance
F F
Clean Up
a. The other servers begin to clean up after venerating the cross.
b. All dishes are to be cleaned and put away.
c. The table is to be left neat.
d. No crumbs are to be left on the table or floor.
e. The censer is to be emptied in the coffee canister; care should be taken not to spill
the coals.
f. All remaining prosphoron are to be brought down to Coffee Hour.
g. Make sure the Hot Water Pot is turned off.
h. All candles/torches in the Altar are to be extinguished. Do not blow out the candles
on the Alltar Table or Oblation Table. These should always remain lit. Blow out the
candles behind the Altar Table (on the 7 Branch Candle stand).
i. Receive the Blessing from the Priest and return vestments to the Vestment Closet.
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5. Church Year
The Church Year of our Holy Orthodox Church begins on September first and continues
through August 31st. It is divided into three seasons based upon Pascha (called Easter
by non-Orthodox Churches), and all the seasons refer to it as their starting point. The
three seasons are: (1)The Triodion, the ten weeks before Pascha including Lent; (2) The
Pentecostarion or Pentecost Season which begins with Pascha and ends the Sunday
after Pentecost Sunday which is All Saints Day; and (3) the Season of the Eight Tones
(Octoechos) for the rest of the year.
The Triodion
The first part, of the Triodion, begins just prior to Lent and runs through Holy Week. The
Sundays of the Triodion are: The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the Sunday of
the Prodigal Son, Meat-fare Sunday, Cheese fare Sunday, and the Sundays of the Great
and Holy Lent. the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas, the Sunday
of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, the Sunday of St. John of the Ladder, the Sunday of
St. Mary of Egypt, and Palm Sunday, finally closing on Holy Saturday morning.
Pentecostarion
The second season is the Pentecostarion, the Paschal or Pentecost Season which begins
on Pascha Sunday and is followed by St. Thomas Sunday, Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing
Women, the Sunday of the Paralytic, the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, the Sunday
of the Man Born Blind, the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
(325AD), Sunday of Pentecost and the Monday of the Holy Trinity, and ends with the
Sunday of All Saints.- This period focuses around the Resurrection of Christ and the
coming of the Holy Spirit upon us.
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6. Vestments
As you may already know, there are three major orders of clergy in our
Orthodox Church: The Deacon, the Priest and the Bishop and two minor
orders, Reader and Sub-deacon. All have vestments that are common to
them all. With each elevation, from Reader to Sub-deacon to deacon to
Priest and from Priest to Bishop, there are some additions that occur in
the vestments. Clergy usually vest in what is called the Sacristy, the
room where the vestments are kept. Many times, the clergy vest in the
Altar as there may not be a Sacristy for them. As they put on each
vestment particular to their position, they recite certain prayers as
appropriate for each item.
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day of his ordination. Thus it is worn by Priests and Bishops. In effect it is a development
of the Orarion, actually being an Orarion doubled with both ends hanging in front and
reaching the full length of the Sticharion.
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Stole or Orarion
The Stole or Orarion is also similar to the deacon but it is worn differently. It is shaped in
a cross at the back with two parts hanging down the front. It denotes the calling of the
altar boy to be a server much as the angels of God serve Him attentively and willingly. It
is given by the Bishop as a special honor for years loyal service as an altar boy when
they become a subdeacon
Service Book
It would be good for each Altar Server to obtain a copy of the Divine Liturgy service
book, in order to follow along during the service. Consider this a part of your
vestments.
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8. Sacred Vessels
Asterisk or Star
The Asterisk or Star is a ceremonial implement consisting of two gold plated metal strips
held together in the middle and bent at a right angle and is set upon the Paten. Along
with serving the practical purpose of keeping the cloth cover from touching, the bread
to be consecrated into the Body of Christ, it is believed to symbolize the star that led the
Magi to Bethlehem and stood over the manger where Christ lay as a new born child.
Aers or Veils
The Cloth Coverings or aers are the veils cut in the shape of a cross and are used to
cover and protect the Chalice and the Paten. There is a larger one which is used to cover
both of these during the Divine Liturgy, and is carried by the Priest or worn on the
shoulder by the deacon during the Great Entrance.
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Cruets
Also found on the Preparation Table are the Cruets; one holding wine and the other
water. These are to be kept full at all times and are used in the Preparation Service.
during the Great Entrance.
Censer or Kadilla
Close by the Preparation Table is found the Censer where incense is placed on a burning
charcoal - It symbolizes the prayers that are offered and rise to heaven. The Censer has
four chains which denote the four evangelists and twelve bells which denote the twelve
disciples of Christ.
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Third Hour – The Priest covers the Litany of the Catechumens “Pray
gifts to the Lord, you catechumens…”
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And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father
before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with
the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy
Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius
Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again according to the
Scriptures; and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; of His kingdom there
shall be no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the
Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified,
Who spoke by the prophets.
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12 Great Feasts:
1. September 8, the Nativity of the Theotokos
2. September 14, the Exaltation of the Cross
3. November 21, the Presentation of the Theotokos
4. December 25, the Nativity of Christ
5. January 6, the Baptism of Christ -- Theophany, also called Epiphany
6. February 2, the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
7. March 25, the Annunciation
8. The Sunday before Pascha -- the Entry into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday
9. Forty Days after Pascha -- the Ascension of Christ
10. Fifty Days after Pascha -- Pentecost
11. August 6, the Transfiguration
12. August 15, the Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos
Fasting Seasons:
Nativity Fast: From November 15th to December 25th
Great Lent: From Cheesefare Sunday until Lazarus Saturday
Holy Week: From Palm Sunday until PASCHA
Apostles Fast: The week following Pentecost until June 29th
Dormition Fast: August 1st to 15th
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In peace let us pray to the Lord! The Great Litany. Stay alert and be attentive to
the needs of the Priest. Pray.
Again and again let us pray to the The First Little Litany. Continue to stay alert and
Lord!... be attentive. Pray more.
Again and again let us pray to the The Second Little Litany. Prepare for the Little
Lord!... Entrance. And pray.
Wisdom! Let us attend! The Little Entrance. If you carrying the Fans, Cross
or candles, stand straight, be still and focus on what
you are doing.
Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy The Time of the Thrice Holy. Put incense in the
Immortal!... hot censer and bring it to the Priest when he
returns to the altar table. The Priest will cense the
Sanctuary; be ready to take the censer back.
Epistle Reading Prepare the candles and fans for the Gospel
Reading. Be alert for when you are supposed to go.
Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us hear The Priest reads the Gospel: Stand reverently and
the Holy Gospel! attentively at your assigned place. When the Priest
reenters the Altar, go to the High Place, Bow, and
put your candles away.
Sermon At this time, the Priest will give a homily.
Immediately after the putting the candle away, go
sit in the pews to hear the homily.
Choir: Let us who mystically The Cherubic Hymn. Bring the censer to the Priest
represent the cherubim… (three when he is finished with his prayer.
times) The Priest will cense the Church: one altar server
stand ready to take the censer from the priest and
bring it to the Oblation Table; all other altar servers
should prepare for the Great Entrance.
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His Beatitude, the most blessed… The Great Entrance. All altar servers participate in
the Great Entrance. Whoever has the censer must
make sure that the censer is brought to the Priest
when he enters the Sanctuary. Afterwards, the
Royal Doors and Curtain are shut.
Let us complete our prayer unto The Litany of Supplication. The hot water pot is
the Lord! turned on. All other altar servers should stand in
the Sanctuary, praying and remaining attentive to
the needs of the Priest. Pray.
The Doors! The Doors! In wisdom The Creed. Gather around the Altar Table and say
let us attend! the Creed and remain attentive to the needs of the
Priest.
Singing the Triumphal Hymn, The Holy Anaphora. Remain around the Altar.
shouting, proclaiming and saying!
Take eat! … Drink of this all of The Holy Anaphora (continued). The Holy Spirit
you!... Thine own of Thine own…! is coming. Pray hard.
Priest: And make this bread the The Epiclesis. God Himself in the person of the
precious Body of Thy Christ… And Holy Spirit is invisibly present in the Sanctuary.
that which is in this cup the Pray harder. Give the Priest the censer. Be
precious Blood of Thy Christ… prepared to take the censer back.
Having remembered all of the The Litany before the Lord’s Prayer. Continue to
saints …! pray.
All: Our Father, who art in The Lord’s Prayer. Pray. Gather at the Altar once
Heaven… again. At the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer,
transfer the boiling water from the hot water pot to
the pitcher.
Prayer at the Bowing of the Heads The Royal Doors and Curtain are shut at the
conclusion of the prayer. Prepare for communion
and pray.
Priest: The Holy Things are for the The Elevation. Bring the pitcher of hot water
Holy! (Zeon) to the Priest. Pray for your clergy and stand
ready to bring the bread into the Nave for Holy
Communion. Make sure the censer is hot; add
charcoal if necessary.
In the fear of God, and with faith Holy Communion for the People. Bring the bread
and love draw near! and wine into the Nave. Be prepared to hold the
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Notes:
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