On Monday, September 17th (OS) / 30th (NS), the Abbot James of the Abbey of Sts. Alban and Aethelwold [Botel Abbey] was consecrated Vicar-Bishop of Whithorn, Dumfries, and the Marches. His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, His Eminence, Archbishop Gavrilo, and His Excellency, Bishop Lazr, were consecrators. Some photos may not be shown.
Mitred Abbot [Archimandrite] James, kneels before His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, before the Litany.His Beatitude reads exhortations to Abbot James an exhortation from the service book prior to the Litany. Abbot James prostrates, after the Litany. Abbot James kneel at the Altar, while the Gospel book is placed upon him by the Bishops. His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, shown to the right of Abbot James, lays on both hands, His Eminence, Archbishop Gavrilo and His Excellency, Bishop Lazr, help support the Gospel book while laying on hands [their right hands are underneath the Gospel book, while their left are shown upon the head of Abbot James. His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, proceeds to chant the Prayer of Consecration, while Hieromonk Enoch holds up the service book. His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, anoints the head of the newly-consecrated Bishop James with Holy Chrism. His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, anoints and consecrates the hands of the newly consecrated Bishop James. His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, binds the hands of the newly consecrated. His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, prepares to bless the episcopal ring. Archbishop Gavril and Bishop Lazr support the Gospel book upon the back and neck of the newly consecrated Bishop James, while His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, after having consecrated and bound the hands of the newly consecrated Bishop James, prepares to bless the episcopal ring, according to the tradition of the Western Orthodox Fathers since ancient times. The ring symbolizes the inseparably union that a Bishop must have to his charge. His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, having blessed the episcopal ring according to the rite of the ancient Fathers, bestow it upon the newly consecrated Bishop. His Beatitude, Metropolitan John, having blessed the Crozier [Episcopal Staff], bestows it upon the newly consecrated, while Archbishop Gavril and Bishop Lazr support the Gospel book upon the one having been consecrated.
