A deacon (from Greek "assistant", "servant") is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions.
Major Christian denominations, such as the Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, Methodism, and Anglicanism, view the diaconate as an order of ministry. In some denominations, including the Catholic Church and Anglican churches, presbyters (priests) are first ordained as deacons before being ordained to the priesthood. Permanent deacons (or distinctive deacons) are those who do not later transition to another form of ministry, in contrast to those continuing their formation to the priesthood, who are then often called transitional deacons.
Origin and development The word deacon is derived from the Greek word (), which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiter", "minister", or "messenger". Recent research has highlighted the role of the deacon "as a co-operator" and "go-between," emphasizing their intermediary position in early Christian communities. ;
It is generally assumed that the office of deacon originated in the selection of seven men by the apostles, among them Stephen, to assist with the charitable work of the early church as recorded in Acts of the Apostles chapter 6. Newer research emphasizes that while the deacons' role was indeed to help, their assistance involved more liturgical, teaching and leadership functions than purely charitable work.
The Greek word (), meaning deaconess, is not found in the Bible. However, one woman, Phoebe, is mentioned at Romans 16:1–2 as a deacon or deaconess () of the church in Cenchreae. Nothing more specific is said about her duties or authority, although it is assumed she carried Paul's Letter to the Romans.
Female deacons are mentioned by the Roman author Pliny the Younger in a letter to the Roman emperor Trajan dated :
This is the earliest Latin text that appears to refer to female deacons as a distinct category of Christian minister.
A biblical description of the qualities required of a deacon can be found in 1 Timothy 3:1–13.
The Synod of Arles in 314 and the First Council of Nicaea denied deacons the possibility of presiding over the Eucharist even in exceptional cases. The Nicene Council ruled that deacons should not sit among the priests during the liturgy, nor should they distribute communion to them.First Council of Nicea, Canon 18, New Advent, accessed on 18 July 2026
Among the more prominent deacons in history are:
Stephen, the first Christian martyr (the "protomartyr") Philip, whose baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch is recounted in Acts 8:26–40 Phoebe, who is mentioned in the Letter to the Romans Lawrence, an early Roman martyr Vincent of Saragossa, protomartyr of Spain Francis of Assisi, founder of the mendicant Franciscans Ephrem the Syrian Romanos the Melodist, a prominent early hymnographer
Prominent historical figures who played major roles as deacons and went on to higher office include Athanasius of Alexandria, Thomas Becket, and Reginald Pole. On June 8, 536, a serving Roman deacon was raised to Pope, Silverius.
The diaconate has been retained as a separate vocation in Eastern Christianity, while in Western Christianity it was largely used in cathedrals and as a temporary step along the path toward priestly ordination. In the 20th century, the diaconate was restored as a vocational order in many Western churches, most notably in the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and the United Methodist Church.
By Christian denomination In the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, and Ancient Church of the East churches, the diaconate is one of the major orders—the others being bishop, presbyter (priest), and, historically, subdeacon. Deacons assist priests in their pastoral and administrative duties, but often report directly to the bishops of their diocese. They have a distinctive role in the liturgy of the Eastern and Western Churches.
Deacons are also appointed or elected in other denominations, though this is less commonly seen as a step towards the clerical ministry. The role of deacon in these denominations varies greatly from denomination to denomination; often, there will be more emphasis on administrative duties than on pastoral or liturgical duties. In some denominations, deacons' duties are only financial management and practical aid and relief. Elders handle pastoral and other administrative duties.
Catholicism
Latin Church
Beginning around the fifth century, there was a gradual decline in the diaconate as a permanent state of life in the Latin Church. The development of a (sequence of offices) found men entering the clerical state through tonsure, then ordination to the minor orders of porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte (in ascending order), before ordination to the major orders of subdeacon and deacon, all being stages on the path to priesthood. Only men destined for priesthood were permitted to be ordained deacons. As seminaries developed, following the Council of Trent, to contemporary times, the only men ordained as deacons were seminarians who were completing the last year or so of graduate theological training, so-called transitional deacons. Permanent deacons was restored as an office following the Second Vatican Council.
During the Mass, the deacon's responsibilities include assisting the priest, proclaiming the Gospel, announcing the General Intercessions, and distributing Communion. They may also preach the homily. Deacons, like priests and bishops, are ordinary ministers of the sacrament of Baptism and may witness at the sacrament of Holy Matrimony outside of Mass. Deacons may also lead funeral rites outside of Mass, such as the final commendation at the gravesite or the reception of the body at a service in the funeral home, and may assist the priest at the Requiem Mass. They can also preside over various services such as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and they may give certain blessings. While in ancient history their tasks and competencies varied, today deacons cannot hear confession and give absolution, anoint the sick, or celebrate Mass.
The vestments most particularly associated with the Latin Catholic deacon are the alb, stole and dalmatic. Deacons, like priests and bishops, must wear their albs and stoles; deacons place the stole over their left shoulder and it hangs across to their right side, while priests and bishops wear it around their necks. The dalmatic, a vestment especially associated with the deacon but originating with the bishop (see below), is worn during the celebration of the Mass and other liturgical functions; its use is more liberally applied than the corresponding vestment of the priest, the chasuble. At certain major celebrations, such as ordinations, the diocesan bishop wears a dalmatic under his chasuble, now taken to signify that he enjoys the fullness of the three degrees of holy orders—deacon, priest, and bishop, but owing its origin, like the sakkos of Byzantine-rite bishops, to the court dress of the eastern Roman Empire.
The diaconate is conferred on seminarians continuing to the priesthood no sooner than 23 years of age,Canon 1031 of the Code of Canon Law although there will be higher minimum ages for permanent deacons.
Deacons, like seminarians, religious, bishops and priests, pray the Liturgy of the Hours; however, deacons are usually only required to pray the morning and evening prayers.
Eastern Catholic Churches The Second Vatican Council noted that the diaconate had fallen into disuse within the Eastern Catholic Churches, and called for its restoration where this had happened.Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite, section 17, published on 21 November 1964, accessed on 16 July 2026 Deacons of the Eastern Catholic Churches cannot preside at weddings, as the wedding requires the blessing of a priest to be valid, and they can only baptize in emergencies.
Permanent deacons Following the recommendations of the Second Vatican Council 29 and the instigation of the Josephites (whose work with African Americans necessitated increased vocational opportunity for married men), in 1967 Pope Paul VI issued the motu proprio , reviving the practice of ordaining to the diaconate men who were not candidates for priestly ordination. These men are known as permanent deacons, in contrast to transitional deacons who were continuing their priestly formation. There is no sacramental difference between the two, however, as there is only one order of deacons.
The permanent diaconate can be conferred on single men 25 or older, and on married men 35 or older, but an older age can be required by the episcopal conference. A married candidate for the permanent diaconate must have the written consent of his wife.can. 1031 §2-3 CIC 1983
If a married deacon is widowed, he must maintain the celibate state. Under some very rare circumstances, however, deacons who have been widowed can receive permission to remarry. This is most commonly done when the deacon is left as a single father. In some cases, a widowed deacon will seek priestly ordination, especially if his children are grown."National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States", 2005, p. 36
The period of formation to the permanent diaconate varies from diocese to diocese as determined by the local ordinary, but it usually entails a period of prayerful preparation and several years of study. Diaconal candidates receive instruction in philosophy, theology, study of the Bible, homiletics, sacramental studies, evangelization, ecclesiology, counseling, and pastoral care and ministry before ordination.
They may be assigned to work in a parish by the diocesan bishop, where they are under the supervision of the parish priests, or in diocesan ministries. Unlike most clerics, permanent deacons who also have a secular profession have no right to receive a salary for their ministry,Canon 281 § 3. but many dioceses opt to remunerate them anyway.Details about the permanent diaconate in the United States are outlined in a 2005 document of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States. url=
Manner of address A deacon is styled as "Deacon", abbreviated variously as "Dn." or "Dcn.""Deacon Trinidad Soc", Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, bulletin, May 3, 2015, p. 1.
The proper address in written correspondence for all deacons of the Latin Church in the United States is "Deacon Name",The Official Catholic Directory 2013, A-30 although it is not uncommon to see "Rev. Mr." sometimes used. "Rev. Mr.", however, is more often used to indicate a transitional deacon (i.e., preparing for ordination to the priesthood) or one who belongs to a religious institute, while Rev. Deacon is used as the honorific for permanent deacons in many dioceses (e.g., Rev. Deacon John Smith, or Deacon John Smith). The decision as to whether deacons wear the Roman collar as street attire is left to the discretion of each bishop. Where clerical garb is approved by the bishop, the deacon can choose to wear or not wear the collar.
Eastern Orthodoxy