Subdeacons are ordained either during the Third or Sixth Hour at the bishop's discretion. The [[orarion | orar]] is put on him, crossed back and front, then the bishop lays his hands upon his head and prays the prayer of ordination. The subdeacon then takes part in the washing of the bishop's hands, and remains standing on the solea, before the icon of the Saviour, holding the ewer and basin, until they are again required at the washing of the bishop's hands at the [[cherubic hymn | cherubikon]]. According to the rubrics, the bishop then blesses the water and the newly-ordained subdeacon carries it into the midst of the church, among the people, for them to bless themselves with it. However, this is not followed in many jurisdictions today.

There are different traditions about the precise time for ordinations to minor orders. Some authorities place the ordination of a reader before the Divine Liturgy, after the final psalm of the Third Hour, with the rubrics suggesting that ordination to the subdiaconate, (if it is to take place), follows immediately. Other books place the ordination to the subdiaconate after the final psalm of the Sixth Hour. The bishop's decision is the final authority in such matters. However, ordination to minor orders always takes place outside of the Divine Liturgy, as this is one of the distinctions between them and major orders, which are always conferred ''during'' the Divine Liturgy.