www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Deacons in the Eastern Church

�Cristo ha resucitado!

Hello to all, first of all I want to thank you for all your kind answers, and I wish you a very happy Easter.
I have a doubt regarding deacons... what does it take to become a deacon in the Eastern Church? what are their most important obligations? Hope somebody can help me.

God bless.
Bernardo

Christos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!

Bernardo,

This is an old link to a news item about the Deacon Formation Program at SS Cyril & Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh...

https://www.byzcath.org/seminary/news/SSCM20030626-1.html

Although the link is old, you may want to try contacting Edward Barr at the number listed for more information.

Additionally, there are many ordained deacons who are regular posters to this forum... I'll bet that if you just sit tight for a while, it won't be long before one or more of them respond personally to your question!

From your question, it would appear as though you may perhaps be experiencing a "call"... please pray to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help you to discern the true nature of this call. If, in fact, you find you are truly blessed with a call to be of deeper service to Our Lord, may He bless you on your journey!

Let's see . . . leaving the propaganda to one side, here are some of the requirements for a successful deacon in our Church:

PERSISTENCE!

A good sense of presence.

The ability to chant decently (since the deacon does so much of the services).

Eyes in the back of one's head (so as to be able to supervise everyone else involved in the service, while remaining calm and unruffled in the face of anything).

An utterly unchallengeable knowledge of the divine services.

the ability to give clear, concise directions - and to insist that those directions be obeyed. For this purpose, a Diaconal Look must be cultivated. If you look at the rubrics, you will find that the deacon even tells the hierarchs what to do (and uses the second person singular for this purpose).

Impeccably good taste.

The ability to make the parish priest feel with utter confidence that he and he alone is in charge (while you meanwhile run the show, allowing the parish priest to concentrate on Higher Things).

That's all just the beginning. If you think you can manage it, please get in touch!

Christ is Risen!

Incognitus

Thank you very much for your answers. In fact Im a bit confused on my vocation , currently Im a lawyer, have a girlfriend, etc., but I feel a deeper need to worship and work for God, though Im not sure if its a call for something special or to work for God from the "lay border". I believe I'll have to have a long talk with my Parish Priest.

God bless you all

Being a lawyer is no impediment to the diaconate - as two friends of mine who were each ordained to the diaconate while maintaining full-time law practice will gladly attest. The girl-friend is another matter; if you wish to be married (and the presence of the girl-friend argues that you might perhaps wish to be married) you must get yourself (or yourselves) married before ordination to the diaconate (some bishops would require this before the sub-diaconate), or else you cannot get married at all.
Christ is Risen!
Incognitus

One must also be able to swat a fly off an altarboy's nose with the censer.

( An Archdeacon can swat a fly of the Bishop's nose)

Bernardo,

This is an excellent piece on the diaconate from a Melkite perspective:

What Is a Deacon? [acorn.net]

and a series of Q&A on the subject by Bishop John (Elya), Eparch of Newton for the Melkites in the US


Questions & Answers on the Role of Deacon [melkite.org]

Many years,

Neil

HUGE GRIN

Gaudior, in mirth

Based on Incognitus' remarks, I'm more convinced than ever that, not only was he once a deacon, but that he may be intimately involved in the process of selecting and ordaining them!

Bravo!

In Christ,
Andrew

Great pages Neil, thank you very much, they have been very useful. By the way I would like to tell you that at the Melkite Parish in Mexico City we are starting to prepare a web page . As soon it is ready I'll share it with you all.

God bless

Dear Andrew,
If you seriously have the impression that I fit the list of qualifications for a good deacon that I offered, I can only thank you for a high compliment!
Christ is Risen!
Incognitus

The ability to chant decently (since the deacon does so much of the services).

I can attest to the fact that this can truly be a gift received through ordination. So don't let it stop you.

Pani Rose

Really? Would Pani Rose care to tell us when, where, by whom and to what she was ordained?
Christ is Risen!
Incognitus

I'm sure she is referring to the graces her husband Fr. Dn. Stan received upon his recent ordination to the diaconate.

Glenn

Christos Voskrese!

Thanks Glenn,

You are right. The difference in Fr. Deacon Stan's voice is amazingly strong. Where he would struggle with certain parts before his ordination, he just glides through them nowand this started right after orination. He had a very flat voice before with little modreation in it, now it is very melodius. Truly a gift of ordiantion! The readers, our priest and other deacon have all been amazed. Not to mention the rest of the layity and myself.

Pani Rose