Page "Canons of Hippolytus" Paragraph 8

* Canons 2-5 give regulations for the selection and ordination of bishops, presbyters and deacons.

The bishop is chosen by the whole congregation: " one of the bishops and presbyters " is to lay hands upon him and say a prayer which follows ( 3 ): he is at once to proceed with " the offering ," taking up the Eucharistic service at the point where the sursum corda comes in.

A presbyter ( 4 ) is to be ordained with the same prayer as a bishop, " with the exception of the word bishop "; but he is given no power of ordination.

The duties of a deacon are described, and the prayer of his ordination follows ( 5 ).