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St Luke Handmaidens

St. Luke Handmaidens.

Name: Leader Lynn Betsanes
Job:Handmaidens
Email: oandrey@aol.com

I have young daughters who are witness to my passion for the Orthodox Faith. Being the head of the Handmaiden ministry allows me to share this love with ALL the young girls at our parish. Children grow up so fast and they need to be involved in duties and activities in church from an early age so it becomes part of who they are and what they will become. Their experiences can influence their spiritual life forever.

It's really exciting to be head of the Handmaiden ministry during this time of change and growth at St. Luke. I am looking forward to learning with the girls how to ring the bells and adding that duty to our ministry.

Job Description

Handmaidens assist in the liturgical worship by presenting the offering plate to the Priest for a blessing and receiving the blessed Holy bread (Prosphora) to prepare it for distribution at the end of the Liturgy. They hold the red cloth during communion for adults, children and babies to make sure that no communion is spilled or splashed on clothing or dropped on the floor. They guide communicants to the proper distance from the chalice, help parents with their children, make sure that lips are dried, and any other guidance for the reception of Holy communion. At the end of the liturgy they distribute electric candles and keep children orderly for the children's blessing. On Holy Friday and Pascha they help in the distribution of the holy Lights and walk ahead of the Altar servers carrying candles. They place flower petals on the way during processions. Ring the bells at the proper times on Sunday, Feast days, Holy Friday and Pascha.

Any young girl that performs a duty or function in the Orthodox Church is called a handmaiden. At St. Luke, there are things done by both men and woman such as reading of the epistle, greeting parishioners and guests at the door and singing in the choir but there are duties that are specific to the handmaidens. These include holding the red cloth and directing the people to the priest and deacons during communion, bringing up the offering and cutting the prosphora and guiding the young children during certain parts of the liturgy. When our bell tower is complete, the handmaidens will also be learning how and when to ring the bells.