Axios!

My father was ordained a deacon for the Reformed Episcopal church on Sunday, January 15, 2012. It was a wonderful experience for me to see my father’s ordination. Though Anglicanism and Eastern Christianity have significant  differences it was still a joy to see my father kneel for the laying on of hands by his bishop.

So, in honor of his ordination and all deacons, of which I pray to one day join their ranks, I present this amazing YouTube clip. This shows an ancient practice, mostly practiced still on the Holy Mountain of Athos, showing the Deacons holding the Zions.

What are the Zions? From a forum post on Byzcath forum by Protodeacon David of St. Elias in Brampton, Canada

In August of 1981, I attended Pontifical Divine Liturgy in Theophany Cathedral, Moscow. The celebrant was Patriarch Pimen. At the censing prior to the transfer of the gifts, two hierodeacons vested similarly as the hierodeacons in the video posted above but without the double oraria, censed with zions. Being curious about this custom, I asked the Patriarchal Archdeacon Stephan to explain this practice. He told me that a few years previous, this custom had been observed on Mt. Athos and the patriarch had decided to implement it at Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in Moscow. To the best of my knowledge at present this practice has not spread beyond the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the censing prior to the Great Entrance.

Abbot Basil Pennington, OCSO mentions in his text “O, Holy Mountain” two hierodeacons censing with zions at polyeleos during Matins. The book is not at hand so I cannot cite the page.

What exactly is the zion? As speculated above either a container for the reserved sacrament (most likely) or a box for incense. The ones I saw in Moscow had no container within and did not open up.

It is a delight to see deacons censing with such care and grace!

A unique tradition indeed!

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