Baculifer

Rod bearer in the liturgy of the Greek Orthodox Church of Hajdúdorog in Hungary

Baculifer ( Latin baculus 'stick' and ferre ' to carry') or pastoralist is the altar server in a pontifical office , who holds the crook of the celebrating bishop as soon as the liturgy provides for it or makes it necessary for him to hand it over (e.g. in the Eucharist ). The altar boy wears a velum over the liturgical robe and does not touch the staff directly. If, as an exception, there are several bishop's staffs in a pontifical office during the concelebration , a corresponding number of baculifers are divided up.

The counterpart to the Baculifer is the Mitrafer , who holds the miter as long as the bishop takes it off at the liturgy . Baculifer and Mitrafer are among the signiferaries who hold the bishop's insignia.

literature

• Guido Erbrich: What you need to know as an altar boy. St. Benno Verlag, Leipzig 2018, ISBN 978-3-7462-5234-6 .