Editing Reader (liturgy) (section)

== Eastern liturgical rites ==
{{Further|Eastern Rite (disambiguation){{!}}Eastern liturgical rites}}
[[Image:Reader ordination.jpg|thumb|The tonsuring of readers in a seminary by a Russian Orthodox bishop. The readers being ordained are wearing the short phelon (in white).]]

In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and in the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] of [[Byzantine Rite|Byzantine tradition]], the reader (in [[Greek language|Greek]], {{lang|grc|Ἀναγνώστης}} {{lang|grc-Latn|Anagnostis}}; in [[Church Slavonic language|Church Slavonic]], {{lang|cu|чтец}} {{lang|cu-Latn|chtets}}) is the second highest of the minor orders of clergy. This order is higher than the [[Ostiarius|doorkeeper]] (now largely obsolete) and lower than the [[subdeacon]].

Immediately before ordination as a reader, the candidate is [[tonsure]]d as a sign of his submission and obedience upon entry into the clerical state. It is a separate act from ordination. The tonsure is performed only once, immediately prior to the actual ordination of a reader, which the ordination rite refers to as "the first degree of priesthood". However, it is not the means whereby a person becomes a reader. Readers, like subdeacons, are ordained by ''Cheirothesia''—literally, "to place hands"—whereas ''[[Christian laying on of hands|Cheirotonia]]''—"to stretch out the hands"—is practised at the ordination of the higher clergy: bishops, priests and deacons.<ref name="Ordination">{{cite web |url=https://www.goarch.org/-/the-sacramental-life-of-the-orthodox-church |title=The Sacramental Life of the Orthodox Church - Liturgy & Worship - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America |website=www.goarch.org |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

[[File:Lukijaksivihkiminen.jpg|thumb|The ordination of a reader in Finland]]
After being tonsured, the reader is [[vestment|vested]] in a short [[phelonion|phelon]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://old.svots.edu/Three-Hierarchs-Chapel/2004-1005-patterson/pages/1200_JPG.htm |title=Patterson / 1200.JPG |access-date=2006-01-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414202613/http://old.svots.edu/Three-Hierarchs-Chapel/2004-1005-patterson/pages/1200_JPG.htm |archive-date=2012-04-14 }}</ref> which he wears while reading the Epistle for the first time. This short phelon is then removed (and never worn thereafter) and replaced with a [[sticharion|stikhar]], which the reader wears thereafter whenever he performs his liturgical duties. This practice is not universal, however, and many bishops and priests will allow a reader to perform his function dressed only in a cassock or (if a [[monk]]) a [[Cassock|riassa]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kosovo.net/289.jpg |title=Image |website=kosovo.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409232955/http://kosovo.net/289.jpg |access-date=2024-01-10|archive-date=9 April 2015 }}</ref> Sometimes, a bishop will decree what vesting practice he wishes to be followed within his own [[diocese]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://holy-trinity.org/liturgics/tikhon.lit1.html |title=HTC: Liturgical Order #1 |work=holy-trinity.org}}</ref>

[[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] [[icon]]s often show readers and church singers wearing a stikhar-like garment (more loose and flowing than the modern stikhar) and a pointed hat with the brim pulled out to the sides.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://images.oca.org/icons/lg/greatlent/sundayorthodoxy.jpg |title=Icon Directory, lower left corner |website=www.oca.org |access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

In [[Eastern Thrace]], during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] period and prior to the tragedy of 1922, some lay people were selected through symbolic [[tonsure]] and [[Cheirothesia]] to receive the ecclesiastical blessing and rank of {{Interlanguage link multi|''Anagnostis''|el|3=Αναγνώστης}}.