Modifications

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.

The deacon ministers to the [[priest]] and [[bishop]] in the divine services and assists in the celebration of the [[mysteries]] of the Church. A deacon may not, however, celebrate the mysteries by himself.

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's hand (as well as the hand of an abbess of a monastery or, occasionally, an unordained monastic) is sometimes kissed as a sign 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 "wrong."

The vestments of the deacon are the [[sticharion]], the [[orarion]], and the [[epimanikia]].

* [[Diakonissa]]

*[http://www.deacon.ru/ The Ministry of Deacon] (in Russian)

*[http://www.orthodox.net/ustav/bulgakov-deacon.html The Deacon] (from the Bulgakov handbook)

*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/clergy_etiquette.aspx Clergy Etiquette]

[[bg:Дякон]]

[[en:Deacon]]

[[ro:Diacon]]