[Concerning the Sub-Deacons—The Constitution of Thomas. ]
XXI. Concerning the sub-deacons, I Thomas 140 One V ms. has the following note: “Thomas preached to the Parthians, Medes, Persians, Germans, Hyrcanians, Bactrians, Bardians, who also, having been a martyr, lies in Edessa of Osdroene.” make this constitution for you the bishops: 141 The words “for you the bishops” are omitted in the Oxford ms. When thou dost ordain a sub-deacon, 142 [See vol. v. Elucidation XIV. p. 417.] O bishop, thou shalt lay thy hands upon him, and say: O Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things that are therein; who also in the tabernacle of the testimony didst appoint overseers and keepers of Thy holy vessels; 143 Num. iii.; 1 Chron. vi. do Thou now look down upon this Thy servant, appointed a sub-deacon; and grant him the Holy Spirit, that he may worthily handle the vessels of Thy ministry, and do Thy will always, through Thy Christ, with whom glory, honour, and worship be to Thee and to the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.
[21] Περὶ δὲ ὑποδιακόνων ἐγὼ Θωμᾶς διατάσσομαι ὑμῖν τοῖς ἐπισκόποις. Ὑποδιάκονον χειροτονῶν, ὦ ἐπίσκοπε, ἐπιθήσεις ἐπ' αὐτὸν τὰς χεῖρας καὶ ἐρεῖς: Δέσποτα ὁ Θεός, οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς δημιουργὲ καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς, ὁ καὶ ἐν τῇ σκηνῇ τοῦ μαρτυρίου τοὺς νεωκόρους ἀναδείξας τῶν ἁγίων σου σκευῶν φύλακας: αὐτὸς καὶ νῦν ἐπίβλεψον ἐπὶ τὸν δοῦλόν σου τόνδε, τὸν προχειρισθέντα ὑποδιάκονον, καὶ δὸς αὐτῷ Πνεῦμα ἅγιον πρὸς τὸ ἐπαξίως ἐφάπτεσθαι τῶν λειτουργικῶν σου σκευῶν καὶ ποιεῖν τὸ θέλημά σου διαπαντὸς διὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ σου, δι' οὗ σοι δόξα, τιμὴ καὶ σέβας ἐν ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας: ἀμήν.