The officiating priest places wax and mutton fat in their hands.
The judge is in a solemn, censorious setting, officiating over important matters.
An alternative explanation is that it was originally devised to prevent contamination between the criminal, citizen and those officiating at the trial.
In some cases these are relatively mundane services, such as children's schooling or officiating at marriages and funerals.
She is unable to be with us this afternoon, because she is officiating at the opening of a major highways project.
Civilian officiating chaplains are normally paid at capitation rates.
Again, as regards the officiating clergy, the rate of pay, in my opinion, is quite amazing.
The driver who'd been drinking was officiating priest.