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280 Patriarch, who lays his hands on their head. The assisting bishops lay theirs on the shoulders of the elect. The Patriarch breathes on him saying: "Receive the Holy Ghost; whose sins, etc." The ordained is vested. Priests are ordained by the imposition of the bishop's hands, and are then vested by him. A priest who becomes a ḳummuṣ is made one by much the same rite, exactly like ordination. The archdeacon and deacon are ordained by laying on hands, not the sub-deacon and reader. The deacon receives the Eucharistic spoon as the symbol of his office, the sub-deacon a lighted candle.

The anointing of the sick has curious features. It should be done, if possible, by seven priests. The matter is oil from a holy lamp. To procure this, little lamps with places for seven wicks are specially made. One of these is placed before a picture of a saint; prayers are said, each priest lights a wick in turn. While it burns, there are more prayers and a gospel is read. Then the sick man is anointed with the oil. This service can only take place in church; if the man is too sick to come himself he sends a friend as a substitute, who receives the sacrament in his name.