Fulfill all the minimum requirements for the Reader.

At least 21 years old

Be involved in the church services.

Be willing and capable of serving in the Altar. (This rank is not a promotion from the reader rank, it is a call to serve the Altar)

Demonstrate proficiency in all the Altar responses of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil in any language.

At least 80% attendance rate in the weekly services: liturgies, vespers, and praises.

Understand the correct rites of the Divine Liturgy.

Read the book: Christ in the Eucharist, by Fr. Tadros Malaty.

Demonstrate proficiency in the Sub-deacon exam, which is based on, but not limited to the above book.

Hymns:

• All Alter responses for the Liturgy of St. Basil and St. Gregory.
• Pinishti
• Amen Espateer

Other:

• The location of different prayers of reconciliation in the Book.
• The location of different fractions in the Book.
• The dates of the Feasts and Fasts.

Hymns:

• Litany of the Obilations (Coptic)
• Tov Hina
• Aspazeste

Other:

• The rites of different sacraments and the role of the deacon in those sacraments.

Lord God of hosts, who have set us in the inheritance of this ministry, who know the minds of men and examine hearts and reins, hear us according to the multitude of Your mercies, and cleanse us from every defilement of body and spirit; take away our sins like a cloud and our iniquities like darkness; fill us with Your power and the grace of Your only Son and the working of Your most-holy spirit; make us sufficient that we may be ministers of Your New Covenant, so that we may be able, as befits Your holy name, to stand before You to perform the priestly ministry for Your divine mysteries; and do not abandon us to participate in the sins of others, but rather wipe out our own; and grant to us, Lord, that we may do nothing wrong through error, but give us knowledge to choose those who are worthy and to present {them} to you; and accept as a subdeacon and make perfect this Your servant (...) who is here present and awaits Your heavenly gift; for You are kind and very merciful toward all who call upon You, and strong is Your power and that of your only Son and of Your most-holy Spirit.

Yes, Lord, make him worthy of the calling of the subdiaconate, so that he may deserve through Your kindness, as befits Your holy name, to labor and serve in the temple of Your glory, and find mercy before you; for you are a merciful and compassionate God, and to You is due glory, honor, and dominion, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Our Master and Lord, God almighty, who in the tent of testimony revealed those who adorn the temple as guardians of the holy vessels; now, our Master, make Your face shine upon your servant (...), who has been granted to be a subdeacon by the discriminating vote of those who have brought him into the midst. Fill him with the Holy Spirit so that he might worthily handle the liturgical vessels, that he might stand at the doors of the temple and might light the lamp of the house of Your prayers. You shall plant him in Your Church as an olive tree laden with fruit, which produces at all times fruit of righteousness.

Look upon us, O Lord, and on Your ministry, and cleanse us from every stain, while You give grace from heaven to this Your servant, so that he may deserve by Your kindness blamelessly to be occupied in this ministry to which You have called him, and find Your mercy with all who through the ages have pleased You; for You are a God who wills mercy and kindness, and from all is due glory, honor and adoration to You, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

My son, you have been trusted with a good grade which is the subdiaconate. Therefore, you shall perform those things which have been assigned to you. They are: that you should follow after the deacon to assist him in the work of the ministry, as he follows after the presbyter. It is necessary for you, therefore, to watch over the doors of the house of God, which is the church, so as not to allow a beast to enter it, neither a dog nor the heretics, at the time of the holy services. When the deacon proclaims, "let none of the catechumens stand here nor anyone who does not receive the holy mysteries," the new shall pay attention to watch with great care over the doors of the church. Since, therefore, you have been trusted to touch that which is holy, the holy liturgical vessels, therefore you should realize the measure of the honor and the gift which has been given you as a wise and faithful servant who eagerly does the will of his Lord, so that you may receive the fruit of the heavenly calling through Christ Jesus, our Lord.