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[[image:altarboy.jpg|thumb|right|A young man in sticharion performing the duties of an altar server]]In some Christian churchesthe Orthodox Church, an '''acolyte''' or an '''altar boy''' is one a term used for someone who aspires to [[presbyter|priesthood]]. More generally, the term can refer to anyone who though unordained, performs liturgical duties such as lighting [[altar]] candles, preparing charcoal for incense, and assisting the major orders with the liturgy.

The [[Orthodox Church]] no longer possesses an exact equivalent for this office. The order of acolyte has fallen into disuse with other minor orders, such as doorkeepers and exorcists.  At one time there was a rank of minor clergy called the taper-bearer, responsible for bearing lights during processions and liturgical entrances. However; however, this rank has long ago been subsumed by that of the [[reader]] and ; the service for the [[ordination]] of a reader mentions both functions.  The functions of an acolyte or taper-bearer are therefore carried out by readers, [[subdeacon|subdeacons]], or by unordained men or boys. Subdeacons wear their normal vestments consisting of the [[sticharion]] and crossed [[orarion]]; readers and unordained servers generally wear the sticharion alone. While in other Christian entities the term Acolyte is used for someone preparing for the major orders of clergy, this is not implied in Orthodox usage.