Hierodeacon

Greek Orthodox deacon in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, wearing an orarion over his sticharion.

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, a Hierodeacon (Greek: Ηεροδιάκονος, Ierodiákonos; Slavonic: Ierodiakón), is a monk who has been ordained a deacon.

Normally, to be eligible for ordination to the diaconate, a man must be either married or he must be tonsured a monk. If he has his bishop's permission, he may delay his marriage until after being ordained a deacon. He may also delay his ordination to the priesthood until after he marries, since after priestly ordination he would not be permitted to marry.

In the Church hierarchy, a hierodeacon or a secular (i.e., married) deacon is of lower dignity than a priest (either married or monastic). Within their own ranks, hierodeacons are assigned order of precedence according to the date of their ordination. Ranking above Hierodeacon is an Archdeacon or Protodeacon.

In some countries, married clergy are referred to as "white clergy" while monastic clergy are called "black clergy".

The proper title for a Hierodeacon is, "the Reverend Hierodeacon (name)." The proper form of address would be, "Hierodeacon (name)", "Father Hierodeacon (name)", or "Father Hierodeacon."

See also

• Hieromonk
• Deacon
• Christian monasticism
• Degrees of Orthodox monasticism
• Monk

References

• This article is based on material from the public domain 1906 Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.

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