www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall An ordination gift?

My nephew is going to be ordained in the Byzantine Church. I don't know what an appropriate gift would be. He and his family are dear to me and I'd appreciate any suggestions of a gift that would celebrate this event and let him know how much he means to me. Thank you all.

PD,

What is he being ordained as - Minor Orders? A deacon? A priest?

That may help determine what is most appropriate for a gift.

God bless,

Fr. Deacon Daniel

Dear Prodigal Daughter!

Let's consider these possibilities (bearing in mind that I known nothing of your financial circumstances):

Lector: a nice edition of the Epistle-Book or the Horologion.

Subdeacon: almost the only possible gift that relates to the ordination is a set of Subdeacon's vestments made to the measure of the candidate. If there is a possibility that he will later be ordained Deacon, go the second mile and have the tailor include the cuffs (=epimanika) to match.

Deacon: a thurible! If he is to remain a Deacon for a good length of time, a good set of Diaconal vestments, made to his measure, will certainly be welcome and appreciated. He might also like a nice Gospel Book, preferably in whatever language he is apt to be using. If he is erudite and can read Greek, get him a copy of the Hierodiakonikon from your favorite Church bookshop in Athens.

Priest: lots of choices: a good set of vestments (again, made to measure), a good chalice set (several people might well club together for this one, since good chalice sets don't come cheap), a good riassa, a plain silver priest's pectoral cross, a special edition of a service book . . . If you are feeling poor, give him a natural sponge for the antimension!

Enjoy!

Fr. Serge

Frs. Daniel and Serge, thank you both - great ideas - he's being ordained as priest. I'm pretty sure that all of his vestments are taken care of - his mom's a seamstress and soooo excited about this. I think I'll research books you've recommended and maybe the silver cross. If I choose a book, would it be appropriate for me to sign the fly-leaf with a blessing?

Thanks again!

Dear P-D,

The fact that his mother is a seamstress is perfect. You could buy (or give a monetary donation towards) cloth or galloon or crosses or an embroidered icon for vestments. A priest needs at least two, and often five or six, sets of vestments in the different liturgical colours.

If you go with a Liturgical Book, you may certainly write a message on the flyleaf with your signature, but it is not proper, strictly speaking, for a layman to "bless" a priest, even with the seemingly innocuous words, "God bless you." It is the priest's office to bless the layman.

Congratulations and may God grant him many years!

Fr David Straut

Fr David Straut,

Instead of a "blessing", could he write encouraging words to express that the priest is in his prayers?

Terry

For the flyleaf inscription - Father David is correct; a layman does not bless a priest (there are those who also insist that one priest should not bless another, but that is surely exaggerated). However, there is nothing wrong with an inscription requesting the priest's ongoing blessing for the giver!

I did forget a couple of interesting possibilities:

Lector: the ordination to this rank involves a vestment called the "Short Phelonion", which is given but never again worn. Thus if a pattern can be obtained and one can be made in time for the ordination, it would be a most welcome and appropriate gift and a more-or-less lifelong memento of the ordination.

Subdeacon: someone who can sew could make a suitable towel for the subdeacon to wear around his shoulders (the bishop will use this towel to dry his hands after washing them before the Enarxis and before the Great Entrance). If someone can embroider the towel appropriately, so much the better. N.B. never use polyester for any sort of towel; all polyester will do is push the water around!

With my warm congratulations to the ordinand, his family, and his friends, and with every blessing,

Fr. Serge

Yes, of course.

FrD

Ordination is exciting.

"You remain ever in my prayers, and I ask your blessing" (or some such) seems to cover it nicely.

That being said, I have one particular friend who is an old pious convert who is always saying "God Bless ya!" to any venerable soul he meets. Years ago when I offered the idea that we should not bless the priest as that is his job... He looked at me rather puzzled...

"Well I am not blessing him, I am saying that God should!"

Most priests on the blessing end understand (I would hope and suspect!) that this simple piety is no attempt at usurpation.

Yes; ordination is exciting - it is also momentous and grace-filled. Most clergy observe the anniversary of their ordination more than they observe birthdays.

Fr. Serge