ORDINATION

ORDINATION. In Greek the technical term is cheirotonia (Church Slavic, rukopolozhenie), literally “the laying-or better, pressing-on of hands.” This action, on the part of the bishop and in the context of the eucharistic liturgy, is believed to impart the grace of the Holy Spirit (qq.v.), in particular the charisma (if it is a bishop or priest being ordained) to preside at the Eucharist (q.v.) and to teach the faith. It has been counted as a sacrament (q.v.) of the Orthodox Church since at least the time of Dionysius the Areopagite (q.v.). The particular term, cheirotonia, is applied only in the case of an ordination to the three “major ranks” of episcopacy, presbyterate, and diaconate. The lesser orders of the clergy, readers, cantors, and subdeacons, are ordained by cheirothesia (the “placing on of [the bishop’s] hands”). The sacrament presupposes a candidate whose life presents no obstacle to the grace received.