Dear Friends,

A question here about the service of "ordaining" a Cantor.

What does it consist of? When is it used? May all Cantors be ordained - and if so, why aren't they?

Alex

According to my notes it is the same as for reader but instead of chanting an epistle the ordinand chants a psalm.

Practically speaking ordained cantors are simply ordained readers who perform the function of cantor. The ordination for reader contains the blessing of candle-bearer (acolyte, server) tonsuring and ordination of reader/cantor although nothing in the service says anything about cantoring. At least mine did not.

Dear Fr. Deacon Lance,

What are the conventions for so ordaining Cantors - should all be so ordained/consecrated, when are they if not, and what about the "riassa" that some wear?

Also, what are the "hoops" one goes through in order to be a bona fide Cantor?

Cantor Sharon Mech, when I met with her once, examined my vocal chords and got me to sing something out loud - she said my voice wasn't so bad and why didn't I go for singing lessons to become a Cantor . . .

Alex

Alex,

Those questions I could not answer and I am sure the answer will very greatly depending on the bishop you ask.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Alex, there have been several earlier threads on the tonsuring of Readers. The answer is the same as in those threads. If you do a search for tonsure or reader, you should find more than enough information to help you.

Here's a question. In the latin Rite, all religious are considered to be automatically special ministers, etc. Is there a similar attitude to monks in the Eastern churrches. Does their consecration as religious mean that they are sort of "autmatically" consecrated readers/cantors, or do they have to be ordained to minor orders like seminarioans or anyone else (to be considered a consecrated reader, as opposed to someone who happens to be singning/reading).

N

I was under the impression that this applied to being an extra ordinary minister of Holy Communion and it was a one off situation, then there is a pecking order to be considered for the role. Religious in the Latin Rite who do this role on a regular basis should be properly instituted (blessed) for the job. It is not the practice for anyone in the Orthodox Church below the rank of Deacon to give Holy Communion. As for the bit about Readers and Cantors I would say that if that is role they have started to do in the Church that they would be properly instituted for the job.

ICXC
NIKA

Below is a list of topics concerning "reader". (Sorry that the format didn't carry over so well from the search.) These threads should help explain what reader/cantor/taper-bearer is all about in the East.

Topic Date Forum

Record Readership! 07-04-2002 1. Church News

Newly Ordained Readers for Archeparchy 05-26-2003 1. Church News

Patron Saint for Readers ? 10-26-1999 2. Faith & Worship

Reader/Cantor 02-12-2002 2. Faith & Worship

Reader's Services 02-19-2002 2. Faith & Worship

Lay Epistle Readers 05-27-2003 2. Faith & Worship

Reader's Services Q & A's 07-10-2003 2. Faith & Worship

reader 04-16-2004 2. Faith & Worship

Women as tonsured readers 04-20-2004 2. Faith & Worship

attire for cantors/readers 01-18-2005 2. Faith & Worship

Tonsured Readers 02-23-2006 2. Faith & Worship

The Order of Reader 02-12-2002 5. Focus on Scripture

Upset Catholic Asks Orthodox Readers 05-07-2005 11. Town Hall

Readers, Cantors and Church Music 09-22-2005 9. The Kliros

Readers services 01-24-2006 9. The Kliros

Ned - the stages of monastic life are completely separate from minor orders.

A monk may profess to the schema and never be tonsured a reader or ordained subdeacon. One enters the monastery to embrace the "angelic life", and leaves it to God, his spiritual father and the hegumen if he is to receive Holy Orders.
FDD