www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Calling deacons! book suggestion?

Hello everyone,

I have been given the assignment of teaching candidates of a Latin diocese for the diaconate the origin and history of the office of deacon. These candidates are married men studying for (if you pardon the peculiar terminology) the "permanent" diaconate not the "transitional" kind (on the way to priesthood). I thought it would be good to get suggestions for a text from those deacons who belong to churches that have always had the view that the diaconate is a distinct and unique ministry - not just a "step" to priesthood. So far the only comprehensive book I have found is one written by an Anglican The Diaconate: a Full And Equal Order by Barnett. Can anyone recommend an Eastern Catholic or Orthodox work?

Thanks

Br. Elias

Anyone have a suggestion?

Br. Elias,

May I humbly suggest my own book published last year. It has a number of references to both Eastern and Orthodox sources. This book is focused on theological and historical development.

Title: "The Deacon as Icon of Christ"
> >Author: Deacon Douglas M. LeClair
> >Publisher: Catholic Sun Publishing
> >112 pages
> >April 2001, ISBN# 1-931461-00-7
> >phone:(602) 257-5569
> >fax: (602) 258-6404
> >mail: Catholic Sun Publishing
> >P.O. Box 13549
> >Phoenix, Arizona 85002-3549
> >E-mail: ascarpati@catholicsun.org <mailto:ascarpati@catholicsun.org>
> >
> >$12.00 U.S. funds plus shipping.

It has been used in formation teaching and by directors who have ordered it from all over the world. Our bishop gave a copy as a Christmas gift to each of the over 200 deacons of our diocese last year.

Deacon Doug

Sorry Br. Elias, I missed your post the first time around. The book is out of print but our own Fr. Deacon Ed's website has the complete text of: The Deacon in today's World by Archbishop Joseph Tawil

http://www.stjosephplacentia.org/Deacons/deacwrld.htm

Also a page of links:
http://www.stjosephplacentia.org/Deacons/deacons.htm

Thanks to all who replied!

Br. Elias OSB

Dear Brother Elias, I recommend works of one of the greatest deacons in Eastern Christianity, St. Ephrem the Syrian. "Hymns on Paradise" is a wonderful work and readily available. There are also some good individual articles relative to diaconal spirituality.

"Let governors be obedient to C�sar; soldiers to those that command them; deacons to the presbyters, as to high-priests; the presbyters, and deacons, and the rest of the clergy, together with all the people, and the soldiers, and the governors, and C�sar [himself], to the bishop; the bishop to Christ, even as Christ to the Father"...

"Since, according to your prayer and the mercies which ye have in Christ Jesus, it hath been announced unto me that the Church that is at Antioch, in Syria, is at peace, it is becoming unto you, as unto a Church of God, to elect a deacon to go there as an ambassador of God; so that when ye are together, ye may rejoice with them, and glorify the name."

"Blessed in Jesus Christ is he who shall be deemed worthy of this ministry, and ye shall be glorified. Now, if ye are willing to do this on behalf of the name of God, it is not impossible; even as the Churches that are nearest, some sent bishops, and others presbyters and deacons."

St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Philadelphians

"In like manner, let all reverence the deacons as an appointment of Jesus Christ, and the bishop as Jesus Christ, who is the Son of the Father, and the presbyters as the sanhedrim of God, and assembly of the apostles. Apart from these, there is no Church." St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Trallians

Is this for the Kansas City-St. Joseph program? You might want to consider bringing the men over to the parish in St. Joseph or Independence sometime so they can experience the Divine Liturgy.

Dear Diak,

The program is for the diocese of Des Moines. I'm not sure why, but the theological training for the diaconal program for KC/St. Joseph is done elsewhere (even though we train their collegian seminarians).

I've been meaning to write to let you know I just found your note on my profile section. Unfortunately I don't check it that often - sorry about that. You said you are a sub-deacon. What exactly are your duties, if I may ask? I talked to some of my older confreres and they said that in the old Latin rite the sub-deacon only did 2 things: add water to the chalice & hold the paten under a humerial veil during a pontifical liturgy. They said it was pretty minor stuff - so that is why the Roman church eliminated the position. They were surprised when I said that the Eastern churches still have sub-deacons.

Some other diaconal questions for anyone who knows the answer.

What is a proto-deacon? (The one book I have does describe the arch-deacon) Are both of these still found in the Byzantine tradition?

Also, I had a disagreement with one of my brothers on deaconesses. I was told in seminary that they were probably deacons' wives or widows who aided in the diaconal ministry (this would be a good point, since the deacon class I have to teach includes the spouses of the candidates. I'm supposed to play up the "team ministry" angle). My confrere, who has a minor in monastic studies, says that this is wrong. Deaconesses were mostly virgins and women monastics.

Any thoughts?

Br. Elias

P.S. Diak, here at the abbey we are having the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in January as part of the Christian Unity Octave. Is your priest and community coming to do it? I have only heard positive comments from our students when they experience this part of the Catholic heritage!

Bro. Elias:

There have historically been several different usages of protodeacon and archdeacon. Current practice uses archdeacon for monastics and protodeacon for non-monastic clergy.

The topic of deaconesses also raises issues based mostly on poorly grounded information. Deaconesses is a separate office from that of the deacon's wife and is not such a loosely used term. There is a very brief history of the office in the western church, a much longer history of the office in the East. There is an excellent history of the office by Martimort. These women were usually older widows or virgins who cared for the women of the community who needed it and assisted in the baptism of females because of concerns for propriety since adults were baptised unclothed for some centuries in the early church.
The position of respect of a wife of a deacon is not the same office. Diaconissa was a term historically used for wife of a deacon, but almost certainly not deaconess.

This is just a nutshell explanation, but it gets the jist of the topics.

Father Deacon Doug

Bro Elias,

The ministry of the subdeacon in the Byzantine Church is mainly service at the altar, the main altar server so to speak. In the hierachical liturgy the subdeacon washes the bishop's hands at the holy doors. This liturgical minsitry is distinct from the other minor orders of candle-bearer, cantor, and lector who technically serve outside the altar.

(Subdeacon) John

Brother Elias, others have jumped in with some great answers. The subdeacon in the Ukrainian Catholic and other churches of the Byzantine tradition is the highest of what would be the equivalent of "minor orders" in the Roman usage. These are, in order, acolyte, cantor, reader, and subdeacon. There was also an order of door-keeper in the Great Church (Hagia Sophia) but this has fallen into disuetude for many centuries.

Traditionally these were conferred sequentially. Today the first three are generally conferred in the same ceremony and occaisionally even subdiaconate is appended to these in the same service, even in the Orthodox churches. In my case I was tonsured and received the first three orders in one service and later was set aside for the subdiaconate in a separate service.

In the Eastern Churches there can be men who maintain minor orders for life, such as a tonsured reader or subdeacon. These are conferred with chierotesia, a blessing, rather than chierotonia, which would be more of a consecration or "ordination". The deacon, priest, and bishop, the three "major orders", on the other hand, are conferred through chierotonia.

The subdeacon has a very significant liturgical role in hierarchical (pontifical) services. He vests the bishop and escorts him throughout the service. He holds the special candlesticks for the bishop, and presents them to the bishop at the appropriate times. These candlesticks are the trikery (three-branched) and dikery (two-branched) that the bishop blesses with in the Byzantine tradition.

The subdeacon is the primary "sacristan" and would have a generally analogous role to the old Roman MC with which you are probably familiar. He can touch the altar, arrange vessels, etc. and also arrange the proskomidia table (table of preparation). He can open and close the Royal Doors for the priest.

I also cut and prepare the antidoron (the bread blessed but not consecrated) which is given to the faithful after the Liturgy. I also take the hot water for the teplota and present it to the priest. I also occaisionally lead the Typika, or the priestless service when the priest cannot come to the church for the Divine Liturgy. I also help out with religious instruction, marriage preparation, teaching the altar servers, readers, etc.

In the particular law of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, there are clerical dress requirements for minor clergy and the subdiaconate during services. In my particular case I have completed diaconal formation through the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (diocese) of Stamford which has a five-year diaconal program and am awaiting diaconal ordination.

I don't want to bore you with too many details. Holler if you need more info.
Subdeacon Randolph, a sinner

Dear Diak & all,

Again, thanks for the information!

May you be blessed as we continue to await His coming!

Br. Elias