www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology A "Presiding" Diaconate - Accomodation or Abuse?

The Permanent Deacon at my mother's Church wears the Roman Clericals and so do many in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. I think it is a personal choice on the part of the Deacon. There are some priests around these parts who only wear their clerical garb when "on duty."

Byzantine deacons also celebrate services by themselves without a presbyter. I find it odd to see presbyters transferring the gifts during the Great Entrance, which was once a deacon role. Presbyters in the Byzantine Church also administer Chrismation by using what one cleric called "Bishop in a Bottle." Several times, I witnessed one of our clergy taking the role of deacon (and wearing deacon vestments) back in the days when we didn't have deacons. What about "altar boys?" Aren't they a go-between between subdeacons and laity, which amount to a ministry-on-loan to fill a need (or void)? And then there are those Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers who distribute Communion when a priest is available, but complies with the 70-Communicant Rule that demands lay action. And how about Mary Martha servers who vest to assist at Communion? What role are they playing? Some presbyters like to act like bishops too ...

Joe

I always tremble when I disagree with a Deacon, but in this case I must:

The "permanent" Deacon's alb has a collar cut in such a way as to reveal that he is wearing a necktie underneath.

The "transitional" Deacon's stole is made in such a way that, while he is still a Deacon, there will be a light "bubble" where the stole hangs over his shoulder, but it will lie flat when he is ordained Priest and the stole therefore goes around his neck.

And no, I am not making this up! I only wish I were.

Now I'm waiting for someone to invent vestments which will make it possible to distinguish the "permanent" Priest from the "transitional" Priest.

Fr. Serge

Fr. Serge,

Blahoslovy!

Isn't a transitional priest a Bishop?

What about the various honorary degrees of Diaconate and Priesthood? Don't they convey a transitional nature?

In the Latin Church a Monsignor is more likely to be a bishop.

The Blessing of the Lord!

Presumably a "transitional" Priest is a prebyter who hopes or intends to become a bishop (the poor fool).

Fr. Serge

I once said to a priest that I hoped that he would become a bishop. He said "What did I ever do to you!" :p

When our priest is away, and our usual substitute priest is unavailable, our Deacon will lead a Typika service with pre-sanctified gifts.

Andrew

Fr. Serge,

I've served with transitional deacons and they have always worn vestments that are identical to mine! While it is certainly true that many of the early designs for deacon's stoles was simply the same as a priest's, but with a chain to allow it to be worn across the chest instead of hanging straight down, this was not "by design" but simply becuase nobody knew better at the time (I have a hand-me-down stole from one of our early permanent deacons and it was cut that way). Yes, it "bubbled" at the shoulder and never hung correctly. Today, most manufacturers of deacons' stoles make a 30 degree cut where the stole "breaks" at the hip so it looks better.

There was never any intention of creating a different set of vestments to highlight the difference. Rather, since transitional deacons were going to be priests the idea was simply to make stoles that converted to priests' stoles easily.

As for the bishops not knowing what to make of permanent deacons -- that is a reality! Even today there is a prohibition against most deacons wearing Roman collars. Allegedly this is to keep people from thinking of deacons as priests. Yet, at the same time, they permit seminarians who are just laymen to wear the collars. Now that is confusing!

As for the albs -- I generally get mine from the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master and they are identical to the albs worn by priests! There is no notch in them. Of course, my dalmatic usually gives me away as a deacon.

So, while you have certainly observed differences, they are not to separate transitional from permanent deacons. That is incidental. Let's not ascribe malice where, I'm certain, none is intended.

Bless, Father!

Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Deacon Edward, a lowly deacon with no desire to be a priest, and especially not to argue with one.

Andrew, this is interesting. What jurisdiction do you belong to? This very question is a topic in our Greek Catholic Metropolia.

Dn. Robert

Joe,

What jurisdiction are you in? We certainly don't have "Eucharistic Ministers" in Passaic Eparchy. What is a "Mary Martha server"? Just curious.

In Christ,
Dn. Robert

The ACROD, but I know other jurisdictions do the same thing in similar circumstances. Also, we normally have two chalices, with the priest serving one line and the deacon the other. Communion takes a really long time when there is only one person serving.

Andrew

Andrew,

As to Typica with Holy Communion served by a Deacon, I had heard objections, in our Metropolia, to the effect that this is not provided for in the traditional liturgical rules. The deacon is only to assist a priest or bishop. But, in your Diocese, I think that the notion of "Economia" has kicked in. A need must be filled. As to distribution of Holy Communion at Divine Liturgy, this is considered "extraordinary" for a deacon, but, in my case, I have the blessing to do this every week, as the pastor interprets the need (there is a "number" of communicants which serves as the rule for need).

Dn. Robert

Dear Father Deacon,
In this instance I'm not ascribing malice - just sartorial silliness.

By the way, the dalmatic is an integral part of the Latin deacon's vestments. I remember someone I knew who was ordained deacon by Cardinal Shehan insisting on wearing his stole on top of the dalmatic - seems his granny had embroidered the stole and he wanted to display her work!

Fr. Serge

Fr. Serge,

Yes, I know about the dalmatic -- and there are many manufacturers who make plain dalmatics with the intention that the stole go on the outside. All the dalmatics I own have a stole on the inside.

I still disagee that the intent of the "sartorial siliness" was to distinguish between transitional and permanent deacons. As I said, I have a stole that would very easily be a priest's stole if the chain holding it at my hip were cut.

There really aren't different vestments...

Fr. Deacon Edward

I have seen this used in the OCA and Antiochian Archdioceses as well.

For Greek Catholics, it entirely depends on the eparchy. I served Typika for an extended period until a more permanent priest could be assigned in the parish, and I continue to do so on occasion for the Greek Catholic outreach in our area.

Several UGCC eparchies also bless deacons to celebrate the Typika with Presanctified Gifts if the genuine need arises. I think perhaps some of the hesitancy is not because of the deacons but because some priests may be tempted to use this situation when the urgency is questionable.

Not provided for in the 'traditional rules'? Check St. Symeon of Thessalonica regarding monks who may not have frequent access to a priest.

I think this is definitely a situation where economia can be exercised to not deprive the faithful of the Holy Mysteries for too long of a time if a priest cannot come.
FDD