Holy Orders is one of the seven sacraments. Within Holy 
	Orders there exitst mahor and minor orders. Readers and 
	sub-deacons are within the minor orders. Deacons, priests, 
	and bishops are the major orders. Christ is the head of the 
	Church, which is also known as the "Body of Christ." He 
	remains active and present in the Church, which He "started" 
	on Pentecost, through the presence of the Holy Spirit. 
	Through Holy Orders, Christ ensures His people that His 
	presence will be seen in the person of the deacon, priest, 
	and bishop. Those given Holy Orders ensure the presence and 
	stability of God's Church until the Second coming.
	
	
	The laying-on of hands was a manner of bestowing a blessing 
	used by Christ in working miracles. Its use is also seen in 
	other situations, see Acts 19:6; Acts 13:3; 1 Timothy 4:14. 
	The practice of the Apostles and the early Church of laying 
	their hands on those being ordained was for the purpose of 
	transmitting the Holy Spirit. That practice of succession 
	continues to this day. The laying-on of hands at an 
	ordination is also accompanied by the invocation by which 
	the ordaining bishop asks that: "The grace divine, which 
	always heals that which is infirm, and completes that which 
	is wanting, elevates through the laying on of hands,______, 
	the most devout deacon to be a priest. Wherefore let us pray 
	for him, that the grace of the all-Holy Spirit may come 
	upon him."