www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy Doing a reading - typical behaviors?

Kind of a curios/trivial question, but is there any kind of standard for how a Reader behaves when approaching to begin a reading, during a reading, and afterwards? There are lots of resources and threads on how to do an actual reading (tones, etc) but I've found little on (once you stand here, do this thing, then do the reading, etc...) I've also noticed different Readers doing slightly different things, and wonder if there is a standard in the Ruthenian church that is typically followed anywhere. This is a question about movements, bows, etc... not the actual reading of the Epistle itself.

So for example, it is common to come to the middle of the nave during the end of the Trisagion. I have seen some come up to venerate icons in front of the ambon, then go back to the middle of the nave for the reading. I have seen others do this at the end after their reading before taking their original place before the Gospel, etc. I know that typically one does not genuflect or cross oneself while reading, etc.

Is there any kind of prescribed manner of movement in this sense for a Reader from start to finish?

Thanks in advance for any POVs.

You are describing small "t" traditions for which diversity should be valued over uniformity.

Sometimes these begin to be considered "the Tradition" within parishes, and that is a danger zone.

Well, I don't mean to be describing any T/tradition because what I observe is more haphazard than based in any kind of localized custom.

So with that context, regardless of how it is mishandled in hypothetical parishes, is there any baseline of Reader movements and behaviors in the Ruthenian Church that would serve as a good starting point for a Reader, absent any localized traditions that might otherwise be more valued?

The venerating of icons before or after the reading seems excessive and performative. The deacon and priest don’t stop to do this while performing their duties, why would a reader? Go to the middle of the church, bow to the altar, read the epistle, bow and cross yourself when the priest blesses you at the end of the reading , return to your place.

This is exactly what I was hoping to hear, and I agree Thank you!!