The '''Deacon''' is the third and lowest degree of the [[major orders]] of [[clergy]] in the [[Orthodox Church]], following the [[bishop]] and the [[presbyter]]. The word ''deacon'' (in Greek διάκονος) means ''server'' and originally it referred to a person who waited on tables.
== Diaconal ministry Ordination===== Deacon's vestments ===The vestments of the deacon ministers to are the [[sticharion]], the [[priestorarion]] , and the [[epimanikia]]. All degrees of clergy wear the sticharion. The sticharion is a long-sleeved tunic that reaches all the way to the ground. It reminds the wearer that the [[bishopgrace]] of the Holy Spirit covers him as with a garment of salvation and joy. For deacons, the sticharion has wide sleeves and is made of a heavier fabric than that of the priest and bishop, who wear their sticharia under other vestments. The second part of a deacon's vestments is the orarion. The orarion is a narrow band of material that the deacon wears wrapped around his body and draped over his left shoulder. It represents the grace of the Holy Spirit that in ordination anoints the divine services deacon like oil. It is the principal vestment of the deacon and assists without it he cannot serve. When the deacon leads the people in the celebration prayers or invites them to attention he holds one end of his orarion in his right hand and raises it. The priest's [[epitrachelion]] and the bishop's [[mysteriesomophorion]] are specialized types of the orarion. The final parts of a deacon's vestments are the Churchepimanikia. A deacon may notThe epimanikia are cuffs that are worn around the wrists, however, celebrate tied by a long cord. These are also worn by the mysteries by himselfbishop and priest. Unlike in They serve the west today, where all practical purpose of keeping the deacon’s functions at High Mass can carried inner garments out of the way during the services. They also remind the wearer that he serves not by a priest, in his own strength but with the Orthodox Liturgy only a real help of God. == Duties ==The deacon can perform ministers to the some of [[priest]] and [[bishop]] in the diaconal functionsdivine services. This includes:
With *Assisting in the blessing celebration of the presiding priest or bishop, [[mysteries]] of the deacon leads Church*Leading the people in the collective prayers and reads (with the blessing of the presiding priest or bishop)*Reading from the Holy Scriptures during the divine services. He is also responsible for (with the blessing of the presiding priest or bishop)*Keeping the decorum of the public worship and calls the , including calling people to attention at appropriate times. *Any tasks of the [[subdeacon]] or [[reader]]In addition, the deacon may perform other *Other tasks related to Church life from time to time , with the blessing and at the direction of his priest or bishop.
A In some jurisdictions, a deacon may be blessed by his bishop and parish priest to distribute the [[Eucharist]] to the faithful, either from a second [[chalice]] at a regular [[liturgy]] where a priest is serving or in connection with a [[typika]] service that is celebrated when the priest is absent. In neither case, however, does the deacon consecrate the [[Holy Gifts]]. The deacon has no ability or authority to consecrate the Holy Gifts on his own.
==Permanent office==In What a deacon does may depend on jurisdiction - some consider the Orthodox Churchdiaconate as a short interval before the priesthood - but, where permanency or longevity in the diaconate is not just a step to priesthoodprized, many deacons have no intention of ever becoming priests. They see it as a permanent officewill often head educational programs and youth groups, perform hospital visitation, as a position for full or part time service to the missionary work of the Church, and conduct social welfare projects.
Originally deacons ===Allowances===Deacons are permitted to wear a cassock; this is done as a sign of his suppression of the Church assisted the bishops in good deeds his own tastes, will and desires, and his canonical obedience to God, his bishop and works of charity. But at some time in recent centuries the diaconate has become an almost exclusive liturgical function where the deacons only assist at the celebration and canonical norms of the Church services. Deacons are also permitted to wear the exoraso (or ryassa). But todayIn jurisdictions that utilise clergy shirts, deacons will often head educational programs and youth groups, perform hospital visitation, missionary work, and conduct social welfare projectsgenerally wear a clergy shirt with collar.
== Rankings During services, the deacon is usually vested in a sticharion with an orarion that hangs over the left shoulder; with the exception of around the consecration of deacons ==SacramentallyCommunion, all deacons are equal. Howeverwhen the deacon will, they are ranked and serve by seniority according to the date of their ordinationfor practicality, arrange his sticharion like a subdeacon.
Just as with bishops and presbytersIn addition, to complete his duties, there are distinctions of administrative rank among deacons. A senior the deacon is permitted to touch the Table of a cathedral or principal church may be awarded Oblation, the title '''''protodeacon''''' Altar, and claim precedence when serving with other deacons. The chief deacon who is attached to move through the person of a bishop is called an '''''archdeacon'''''. A deacon who is also a monastic is called a '''''hierodeacon'''''Royal Doors.
== Etiquette =Restrictions===For formal occasions (for example, in The place of a deacon is to serve the heading community and to lead prayers. He must have the blessing of a letter or when introducing a speaker), one would politely address the presiding priest or refer bishop to a deacon as "The Rev. Deacon [John Smith]put on his vestments and serve." ''Deacon'' is often A deacon may not celebrate the sacraments by himself; he may not give blessings; he may not consecrate the [[Abbreviations|abbreviatedHoly Gifts]] ''Dcn.'' or ''Dn.''
==Contemporary Practice=====Permanent office===In informal settingsthe Orthodox Church, for example, in normal conversationthe diaconate is not just a step to priesthood, many deacons have no intention of ever becoming priests. They see it is appropriate to simply refer to as a deacon as "Deacon [John]." Note that in some traditions, howeverpermanent office, it is common to refer to deacons as "Father"—a position for instance, "Father Deacon [John]" full or even "Father [John]part time service to the work of the Church."
Deacons cannot bless, so it is inappropriate to ask a deacon for his blessing; blessings are given only by Originally deacons of the Church assisted the bishops in good deeds and priestsworks of charity. In But at some traditions, however, such as time in Greece, recent centuries the diaconate became an almost exclusive liturgical function where the deacon's hand (as well as deacons only assist at the hand celebration of an abbess of a monastery orthe Church services, occasionally, an unordained monastic) is sometimes kissed as a sign helping in other areas like any other knowledgeable member of respect for the Holy Spirit which operates through that person's office. Neither kissing a deacon's hand nor not kissing it is strictly "right" or "wronglaity."
== Deacon's vestments = Rankings of deacons ===The vestments of the deacon Sacramentally, all deacons are the [[sticharion]], the [[orarion]]equal. However, they are ranked and serve by seniority according to the [[epimanikia]]date of their ordination.
All three degrees Just as with bishops and presbyters, there are distinctions of major clergy wear administrative rank among deacons. A senior deacon of a cathedral or principal church may be awarded the stichariontitle ''protodeacon'' and claim precedence when serving with other deacons. The sticharion chief deacon who is a long-sleeved tunic that reaches all the way attached to the ground. It reminds the wearer that the [[grace]] person of the Holy Spirit covers him as with a garment of salvation and joybishop is called an ''archdeacon''. For deacons, the sticharion has wide sleeves and A deacon who is also a monastic is made of called a heavier fabric than that of the priest and bishop, who wear their sticharia under other vestments''hierodeacon''.
The second part === Etiquette ===For formal occasions (for example, in the heading of a letter or when introducing a speaker), one would politely address or refer to a deacon's vestments is the orarion. as "The orarion is a narrow band of material that the deacon wears wrapped around his body and draped over his left shoulderRev. It represents the grace of the Holy Spirit that in ordination anoints the deacon like oilDeacon [John Smith]. " It ''Deacon'' is the principal vestment of the deacon and without it he cannot serveoften [[Abbreviations|abbreviated]] ''Dcn. When the deacon leads the people in prayers '' or invites them to attention he holds one end of his orarion in his right hand and raises it''Dn. The priest's [[epitrachelion]] and ' (though the bishop's second is used as an abbreviation for [[omophoriondean]] are specialized types of the orarion).
The final parts of In informal settings, for example, in normal conversation, it is appropriate to simply refer to a deacon's vestments are the epimanikia. The epimanikia are cuffs that are worn around the wristsas "Deacon [John]", "Father [John]", or "Father Deacon [John]", tied by a long cord. These are also worn by the bishop and priest. They serve the practical purpose of keeping the inner garments out of the way during the services. They also remind the wearer that he serves not by his own strength but with depending on the help of Godtradition.
Before Deacons cannot bless, so it is inappropriate to ask a deacon for his blessing; blessings are given only by bishops and priests. In some traditions, however, such as in Greece, the deacon can don any 's hand (as well as the hand of his vestmentsan abbess of a monastery or, occasionally, he must first receive the blessing an unordained monastic) is sometimes kissed as a sign of respect for the bishop Holy Spirit which operates through that person's office. Neither kissing a deacon's hand nor not kissing it is strictly "right" or priest with whom he is serving"wrong."
==See also==
[[bg:Дякон]]
[[fr:Diacre]]
[[mk:Ѓакон]]
[[ro:Diacon]]