Hierodeacon

Who is Hierodeacon?

A Hierodeacon, sometimes translated "deacon-monk", in Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a monk who has been ordained a deacon. The term literally translates as "sacred servant", in accordance with early Byzantine usage of the adjective "sacred" to describe things monastic.

Normally, to be eligible for ordination to the diaconate, a man must be either married or he must be tonsured a monk. If he has his bishop's permission, he may delay his marriage until after being ordained a deacon. He may also delay his ordination to the priesthood until after he marries, since after priestly ordination he would not be permitted to marry.

In the Church hierarchy, a hierodeacon or a secular deacon is of lower rank than a hieromonk or a secular priest. Within their own ranks, hierodeacons are assigned order of precedence according to the date of their ordination. Ranking above Hierodeacon is an Archdeacon or Protodeacon.

In some countries, married clergy are referred to as "white clergy" while monastic clergy are called "black clergy" because monks should always wear black clothing but married clergy in many parts of the world typically wear white cassocks and rasons.