In the Christian Orthodox tradition, there are several degrees of priesthood. Bishops are the head of the Church, priests perform ordinances. At the same time, there is another type of priesthood called deaconism.
The deacon (deacon) is a clergyman of the Orthodox Church. Deaconess is the first stage of the ministry. The difference between a deacon and a priest is that the first one cannot perform the sacraments of the holy Church himself, but has the right only to take part in them as the priest’s main assistant (priest).
Deacons deliver most of their petitions to God for worship. At the Divine Liturgy, the deacon is instructed to read a passage from the gospel. Endowed with the grace of priesthood, a person in the rank of deacon has the full right to touch the holy throne at the altar (this is forbidden to ordinary altars and sexton).
Since deaconism is a form of worship to God, it is possible to take the holy dignity only from the ruling bishop (bishop). Moreover, after the adoption of the dignity, the deacon no longer has the right to remarry, or the first marriage, if a person has previously adopted monasticism.
Deacons can be divided into older and younger. So, the protodeacon is the senior deacon. Usually these people serve together with the bishop who is serving as bishop, but protodeaconism can also be a reward for long service. There is also an archdeacon. This is a man who carries out his ministry with the patriarch. Deacons who, prior to the adoption of the holy dignity, were tonsured monks, are referred to in the Orthodox Church as hierodeacon.
