Before the Badarak Begins: The Priest Prepares
Himself Alternating
For the celebrant priest, the Divine Liturgy begins in silent prayer in
the vestry. There, the priest and deacon alternately recite the verses
of Psalm 131, "Let your priests clothe themselves with righteousness;
and let your saints exult with joy." The priest then prays to
God, acknowledging his own sinfulness and the extraordinary privilege given
to him by God to lead the people of God in the offering of the Divine Liturgy.
The various vestments worn by the priest are inspired by those worn by the
Jewish priests in the temple, as described in Exodus 28. Each article
is accompanied by a brief prayer, which the priest offers as the deacon
hands it to him to put on. As he puts on each successive garment,
the priest prays that God will also clothe him with the grace and virtues
to preside worthily at the Badarak: "Clothe me with a radiant garment
and fortify me against the influence of the evil one, that I may be worthy
to glorify your glorious name…"[3].
>> The Badarak begins
