The hierarchal Liturgy then begins, and after the hierarchs have entered the sanctuary at the Little Entrance, and the trisagion is sung, the candidate is led to stand before the Royal Doors by the Archpriest and Protodeacon and then received into the sanctuary by the bishops.  He kneels before the Holy Table, placing his hands and head upon it, bearing witness to his total surrender of his will to God.  The Bishops place the opened Gospel over his head, to impress upon him that he is called to preach the Gospel, and that therefore he must be fully versed in the evangelical truths.  The presiding hierarch says: “By the election and approbation of the most God-loving Bishops, and all the sacred council, the Grace Divine, which always healeth that which is infirm, and completeth that which is wanting, through the laying on of hands elevateth thee, most God-loving archimandrite (or hieromonk) N…, duly elected, to be the Bishop of the God-saved city of N….  Wherefore let us pray for him, that the grace of the All-holy Spirit may come upon him.”  The Bishops and priests chant the “Kyrie, eleison.”  The presiding bishop blesses the candidate, and while the hierarchs lay their hands on his head, prayers are read  in which the grace of God is besought for him, which is indispensable for the lofty and difficult ministry of the episcopate.  Then he is given the episcopal vestments, the sakkos, omophorion, panagia and mitre.  As he is clothed in each one, “Axios” (Worthy) is chanted for him, and for the putting on of each of the vestments, the new Bishop asks the blessing of the other hierarchs.  They then continue with the celebration of the Liturgy, with the newly consecrated Bishop concelebrating with them.

At the Great Entrance, the presiding hierarch takes the diskos and the newly consecrated Bishop takes the chalice.  And at the communion of the clergy, the former gives the priests the Immaculate Body of the Saviour, and the latter the Cup. 

At the end of the Liturgy, the presiding Bishop places the episcopal mantia, which is purple with the red and white “streams,” on the new Bishop and leads him to the ambon, presenting him to the whole community of the Church.  He makes a speech of greeting to his newly-consecrated brother and presents him with the archpastoral staff.  Holding it, the new Bishop blesses the people on all four sides.  [According to Miss Hapgood, the protodeacon then escorts the new bishop to his home!]

FROM THE SACRED CANONS 

IF ANY BISHOP, or Presbyter, or Deacon, or Subdeacon, or Reader or Chanter fails to fast throughout the forty days of the Holy Lent, or on Wednesdays, or on Fridays, let him be deposed from office, unless he has been prevented from doing so by reason of bodily illness. If, on the other hand, a layman fails to do so, let him be excommunicated.

Canon 69 of the Apostolic Canons