A reader is a man who’s been tonsured (set apart through a specific church ceremony) to read Scripture and lead certain parts of our worship services. It’s the first of what we call the minor orders, a step into serving the Church in a formal, recognized way.
You’ll see readers at work every Sunday. They read the Epistle during the Divine Liturgy. They chant psalms and responses. They might lead the choir or help organize which hymns get sung when. In smaller parishes without a full choir, the reader does most of the chanting you hear, carrying on that back-and-forth dialogue with the priest that makes up our services.
But the role goes beyond just reading out loud. A reader is also a servant of the altar. He might help prepare the prosphora (the bread we use for communion), keep the altar area clean, light candles, or handle other practical tasks that keep worship running smoothly. Think of it as being both a liturgical minister and a sacristan rolled into one.
How Someone Becomes a Reader
The bishop tonsures a man to be a reader, though sometimes he’ll delegate this to a senior priest. It’s not just a casual appointment. There’s an actual service for it, with prayers and specific actions that set the man apart for this work.
During the tonsuring, the bishop lays hands on the candidate and presents him with the Gospel book. He charges him to read God’s Word faithfully and to live a life worthy of handling Scripture. The prayers talk about receiving the “first-fruits of the priesthood,” which doesn’t mean the reader becomes a priest, but that he’s taking a first step into the Church’s ordained ministry.
For his first Epistle reading, the newly tonsured reader wears a short phelonion (an outer vestment). After that, he typically wears a sticharion (a long tunic) when he’s serving liturgically. The vestment matters because it shows he’s not just a layman helping out. He holds an actual office in the Church.
There are requirements. A reader must be Orthodox, male, and married only once (or not married at all). He needs a good reputation. The ancient canons say his character should be publicly examined before tonsuring because he’s going to stand before the people and proclaim God’s Word. That’s not a small thing.
Why This Matters
In Southeast Texas, most folks are used to churches where anyone might get up and read a Bible passage. That’s fine for what it is. But we understand the public proclamation of Scripture differently. When the reader chants the Epistle, he’s not just sharing information. He’s performing a liturgical act, representing the whole congregation’s prayer and response to God.
St. Symeon of Thessaloniki, writing back in the 14th century, described readers as those who voice the faithful’s prayers and bridge the space between clergy and laity. They’re dedicated to this work, expected to study Scripture daily and maintain moral purity because they serve at the altar.
Now, you’ll sometimes see non-tonsured men reading in Orthodox churches, especially when there’s a shortage of tonsured readers. Pastoral practice varies. But the ideal is that the one proclaiming Scripture has been set apart for exactly that purpose through the bishop’s blessing.
What This Looks Like at St. Michael
If you’ve been visiting St. Michael for a few weeks, you’ve already heard our readers at work. They’re the ones chanting from the kliros (the choir area), reading the Epistle before the Gospel, leading the responses during Vespers or Matins. Some of them have been tonsured for years. Others are newer to the role.
The reader’s job requires preparation. He needs to know the service, understand the typicon (the rule book for how services are structured), and practice the chants. It’s not about performance. It’s about offering your voice and attention to God in a disciplined, consistent way.
And here’s something worth knowing: being tonsured as a reader doesn’t automatically mean you’re on track to become a deacon or priest. Some readers do eventually receive higher orders. Many don’t. The office of reader is valuable in itself, a permanent way of serving the Church through the ministry of God’s Word.
If you’re a man who’s been attending St. Michael regularly and you’re drawn to this kind of service, talk to Fr. [parish priest’s name]. He can tell you what’s involved, what the expectations are, and whether it might be the right path for you. The Church always needs faithful men willing to proclaim Scripture and lead our common prayer.
