A tonsured reader is a man who’s been set apart by the bishop to read Scripture during services and assist in the sanctuary. It’s the first of what we call the minor orders, which means he’s part of the clergy but isn’t a deacon or priest.
You’ve probably seen him at St. Michael’s. He wears a cassock and reads the Epistle during Divine Liturgy. Maybe he’s lighting candles before the service starts or helping prepare things in the altar. That’s a reader.
The Tonsure Service
The word “tonsure” comes from the ceremony itself. The bishop cuts a small cross-shaped bit of the man’s hair while praying over him. This happens in the nave, not in the altar, because the reader isn’t being ordained to the priesthood. The bishop blesses him, gives him the Book of Epistles, and the newly tonsured reader immediately reads from it as part of the service.
It’s a public thing. The whole parish sees it happen. The bishop tells the new reader what his duties are and warns him to take them seriously. Then he’s vested in a cassock, which he’s now blessed to wear without asking permission each time.
Some parishes do this fairly often. Others go years between tonsuring readers. It depends on the needs of the parish and whether there are men ready and willing to serve this way.
What Readers Actually Do
The main job is right there in the name. Readers read. During Liturgy, that’s the Epistle. During other services, it might be the Old Testament readings at Vespers or the Psalms at Matins. This isn’t casual reading. You’ve got to learn the proper tone and know how to pronounce the names (Melchizedek trips up plenty of folks at first). You’re proclaiming Scripture to the congregation, so you’d better be prepared.
But there’s more to it than standing at the analogion with a book. Readers often serve in the altar as taper-bearers, lighting candles and carrying them during processions. They help the priest prepare things for the service. They might bring the hot water and prosphora to the altar. In smaller parishes without a dedicated altar server, the reader does a lot of the practical work that keeps services running smoothly.
Many readers also serve on the kliros with the choir. That makes sense when you think about it. If you’re going to chant the Epistle, you probably need to know your way around Byzantine chant anyway.
Who Can Become One
Only Orthodox men in good standing. The priest recommends someone to the bishop, usually because the parish needs readers and this particular guy has shown he’s reliable, knows the services, and wants to serve. He’s not applying for a job. He’s accepting a responsibility.
Before the tonsure, the candidate prepares spiritually. He fasts. He attends Vespers the night before. He takes this seriously because he’s about to become part of the clergy, even if it’s a minor order. That matters.
I know a guy who was tonsured as a reader at a parish up in Dallas. He’d been Orthodox for three years and had been showing up early to help set up for Liturgy every Sunday. The priest noticed. Six months later, after learning to chant the Epistle and studying the Typikon, he was tonsured. Now he reads every other week and serves in the altar when needed. It changed how he thought about his role in the parish. He wasn’t just attending anymore. He was serving.
Why This Matters
In the early Church, these minor orders were taken seriously. Reader was a recognized position with real duties. Over time in some places it became more of a formality, a step on the way to the priesthood. But in parish life, especially in smaller missions and parishes, tonsured readers are essential. They’re the ones who make it possible for the priest to celebrate services properly.
And there’s something else. When a man is tonsured as a reader, he’s making a commitment. He’s saying he’ll be there, he’ll prepare, he’ll serve. In a culture where people church-hop or show up when it’s convenient, that kind of commitment matters. It strengthens the parish.
If you’re a man who’s been Orthodox for a while and you find yourself wanting to serve more actively, talk to Fr. Nicholas. Maybe you’re being called to this. We can always use more readers who know what they’re doing and show up ready to serve. The Church has needed readers for two thousand years. She still does.
