says the appropriate vesting prayer quietly to himself as he puts it on. Before approaching the priest for a blessing, the deacon takes up his vestments (sticharion, orarion and epimanikia) and goes to the High Place (the area behind the Holy Table, where the bishop's throne sits) and makes three metanias to the east, saying each time, "O God, cleanse me a sinner." The Deacon, holding his vestments on the palm of his right hand, comes to the priest and, bowing his head, says: Bless, Master, the Sticharion and Orarion. The Priest says: Blessed is our God + at all times, now and always and for ever and ever. The Deacon says Amen, kisses the right hand of the Priest, withdraws to another part of the sanctuary (the diaconicon) and puts on his vestments saying (for the Sticharion):My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He has clothed me with the garment of salvation and covered me with a tunic of happiness; He has crowned me as a bridegroom and as a bride, adorned me with jewels.And he kisses the Orarion and puts it on his left shoulder, saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Then he puts on the Epimanikia over his right hand, saying: Your right hand, Lord, is made glorious in might; your right hand, Lord, has crushed the enemies; and in the fullness of your glory, You have routed the adversary.At the left hand:Your hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding and I shall learn your commandments.Priest When the priest vests, he first blesses each vestment with his right hand, kisses the cross on the vestment, and puts it on, saying the appropriate prayer. However, if a bishop is present in the church when it is time to vest, the priest will first take his vestments to the bishop and ask his blessing. In this case, the priest will not bless each vestment before putting it on, but rather cross himself, kiss the cross on the vestment and put it on. Taking in his right hand the Sticharion and making three reverences toward the East to the Holy Doors, the Priest blesses it:Blessed is our God + at all times, now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.He then puts it on, saying:My soul shall rejoice in the Lord,