www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Hierodeacons

I was wondering how common are hierodeacons in Eastern Orthodoxy, and Byzantine Catholic Jurisdictions?

It seems like the monastic deacon is not common in history or the contemporary scene amongst the western monastic orders and I was wondering if hierodeacons run scare in the east as well. Do their numbers fall behind hieromonks and unordained brothers?

Thanks!

Yeah, I noticed hierarchy among the Diaconate in the UGCC at least. We have an Archdeacon at St. Josaphat Cathedral, as an example. So yes, it does appear that you have just as much hierarchy among the Diaconate as much as you have in the Priesthood, apparently. Not sure what other Diaconate ranks there are besides Subdeacons, Deacons, and Archdeacons, though.

I am not sure Little Boy Lost was asking about the hierarchy among the diaconate. (though it is an interesting topic) Rather I think he was asking about, specifically, monastic deacons or hierodeacons.

I am not sure how many hierodeacons there are in the contemporary Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. I would guess that most large monasteries have at least one hierodeacon to serve the community.


I would say that the majority of Eastern Orthodox monks (and I would guess it would be the same within traditional Eastern Catholic monasticism (not ones based on a western model) is that the unordained monks outnumber the ordained monks by a wide margin. Within Orthodoxy an abbot doesn't necessarily have to be ordained a priest.

The monasteries I have visited (both Greek Catholic and Orthodox) have all had at least one hierodeacon.

I wonder if I am the only person who thought that people were talking about hero-deacons until I finally saw it in print...