We refer even in our conversation to the flock and a pastoral visit. First thing you’ll notice about the Bishop is that his staff is not a shepherd’s crook as you would see in the Western church. So much for our shepherd and flock analogy. Look closely at it. It is two snakes on a pole. Remember Moses and the Israelites wandering in the desert? With God so many things are so mysterious yet so consistent - especially His ability to transform death to life. The snakes that brought illness and death, raised on a pole brought healing and life to those who gazed upon them. Just like our Lord and Savior raised on the cross in the flesh took the instrument of a torturous death and transformed it into salvation and eternal life. Our Bishop doesn’t keep us corralled in a pasture; he leads us to healing and to salvation through Our Lord and Savior.

His staff will be left outside the iconostasis when he is at the altar. No, he didn’t lean it out there and forget it like a pair of shoes left under a coffee table, but rather it is the announcement that he is present and the church is complete even if we cannot see him.

For the liturgy he will arrive early and the children traditionally greet him with flowers. What a beautiful way don’t you think to welcome our Bishop? Please make every effort to arrive well ahead of the Bishop to greet him.

He will be greeted with “Eis polla eti Despota” – meaning Many Years Master. All Bishops are greeted in Greek this way (it doesn’t matter if it is a Greek parish, Russian, OCA, Romanian – whatever). The other phrase you will hear in Greek is: Preserve, 0 Lord, our master and chief priest - Ton dhespotin kai archierea imon.

He will not vest behind the iconostasis as the priests do but rather in the center of his flock. The choir will sing powerfully beautiful hymns as he is vested. Listen carefully to these words as his vestments are more than fancy raiment.

He will stand on a Cathedra – literally his seat of authority or Bishop’s throne. He stands on it first to be vested before the Liturgy begins; second to begin the Liturgy and also to tonsure or ordain any candidates in line for that.

But he is still very tied to the altar. Do you remember the conversation we had about moving about in church? Absolutely positively do not break the line between the altar and the Bishop. If you really, truly and absolutely must move to the other side of the church, go behind him and not between him and the altar. Please take a few minutes and talk with your children about that too. You will notice that the clergy will even carefully align themselves between the Cathedra and the ambo at the beginning of the liturgy. We are united powerfully in Christ and the Hierarchical Liturgy will beautifully immerse us in that fact.

The Bishop will also serve at the altar. One of the major changes for a hierarchical liturgy is at the singing of the Trisagion – the Holy God. It isn’t sung 4 ½ times as usual but 7 ½ time and there are verses and special blessings throughout it. The Bishop will emerge with the dikiri and trikiri candles (a set of 2 and a set of 3 for a total of 5 candles) to bless the congregation – which he calls the vineyard planted by God’s own right hand (now there is some food for thought – we are not sheep after all but a vineyard expected to be fruitful). What do these candles mean? Look at how the candles are arranged – do you notice how similar they are to how the priest holds his hand in blessing us or we hold our hands to make the sign of the cross? One Bishop explained to me that it was like a third hand. The blessings from our Lord are so abundant that even the Bishop’s two hands do not suffice to bestow it. So how will we as the vineyard respond to this blessing? Like a fruitful vine or a barren fig tree?

He will give the sermon. Unlike other Sundays where we can sit during the sermon, do not sit when the Bishop is preaching. Remain standing. Many will draw nearer to him and that is fine but do not sit.

You may call him Vladyka, Your Eminence, Your Grace. And I beg you, please do not call him your majesty, your honor or bishop (truly, I have heard all of these used). When you see him after the liturgy, ask for his blessing. Bow before him and place your right hand onto your left – palms up. There is no ring to kiss, only his hand.

After liturgy and after the post communion prayers, a group will stay in the choir and sing “Eis polla eti Despota” again as the Bishop emerges from behind the iconostasis. Usually most have already headed to the hall. But may I suggest that if you are not directly involved in preparing the meal, please stay for this. He will again bless us.