The Deacons Website

The Roles and Qualifications of the Different Ranks of Deaconship

SINGER (Psaltos)
- For someone to be ordained singer, they must
1) be able to sing
2) be able to sing all the congregational responses
- Their role is to form the "choir" which leads the congregation outside the altar.
- They should wear a tonic (tonya) with no batrashan.

READER (Eghnostos)
-For someone to be ordained reader they must
1) be a proficient singer (and eveything that entails)
2) be able to read
3) be very well aquianted with scripture
4)be in a position to explain both the Old and New Testatments
- Their role is to be ready to read the Pauline Epistle or any readings as directed by the Priest, as well as the list of Patriarchs (there is an explicit reference to this rank in our liuturgical text,... "Let the READER name our Holy Fathers,..."
- They also serve outside the altar.
- They should wear a tonic (tonya) and a batrashan in the shape of a cross

SUB-DEACON (epi-De-acon)
- For someone to be ordained sub-deacon they must
1) be a proficient reader (and eveything that entails)
2) be sufficiently aquainted with the Liturgical rites as to lead the singers
and readers outside of the Altar.
3) be in a position to explain and teach the congregation about Church Canon.
- Their role is to run everything outside of the altar during the liturgy
- They also serve outside the altar.
- They should wear a tonic (tonya), and their batrashan on their right shoulder.

DEACON (De-acon)
- For someone to be ordained deacon they must
1) be a proficient sub-deacon (and eveything that entails)
2) Be completely consecrated for the service of the Church
3) Know all the responses for service inside the altar.
4) Give out the Blood during communion.
5) In the early Church, they also baptized (Acts 8:4-18), and delivered
communion to the sick.
6) Resolve civil disputes.
- They should serve inside the Altar
- during the liturgy they should wear a tonya, and a batrashan on their left shoulder, as well a 'crown' on their head.
- when not in the liturgy, they should wear a black robe, a cross, and a belt around their waist to distinguish them from priests.