Appropriate hours of the agbeya will be prayed depending on day and season
Serving deacons only may now enter the altar
One Deacon will hold the cruet of wine and will stand on the left side of the altar (right hand side of the priest) and will cross his hands while holding a candle in the other hand
Another deacon will stand at the other side of the priest holding the cruet of water in one hand and a candle in the other NOT crossing his hands
Across from the priest will be the basket of the lamb held by another priest, full deacon, or the deacons highest in rank and age.
All other deacons should hold candles and stand reverently around the altar
One deacon will hold a candle on the right side of the altar to walk backwards in front of the priest in the procession of the lamb
As the priest chooses the lamb, he will present the wine to the priests/deacons around it to smell to check if the wine is good or if it has gone bad. If you smell that the wine is good, you replay saying “It is good and precious”
After the lamb is chosen, the priest will bring ONLY that lamb into the altar. The deacon holding the wine and the deacon holding the water will enter the altar following the priest.
The deacon holding the water will attentively pour some water into the priests hand for him to “baptize the lamb” (Altar leaders please choose an older experienced deacon to do this to avoid any mishaps)
The deacon holding the wine will stand in front of the deacon holding the water.
Procession of the lamb will take place as the deacons inside the altar chant the response of the Litany of the Oblations in the language the priest just prayed in.
Priest will place the lamb in the paten and mix the wine and water into the chalice as he prays the Prayer of Thanksgiving.
Priest will cover the altar. The serving priest or highest in rank/age deacon will cover the altar with him
Priest and all deacons will prostrate before the altar
ALL deacons serving in the altar must kiss the cross and hand of the priest as he goes around the altar to pray the absolution of the servants
All deacons are to now leave the altar as a sign of when the disciples fled during the time of the crucifixion of Christ