“The diaconate was instituted not for priesthood but for the service of the bishops and presbyters.
Deacons were, in fact, once considered as their hands and eyes; or, as expressed by Ignatius of Antioch, the deacons manifest in harmony with them to the faithful people ‘the commandment of the Lord.’
A similar perspective preserved in the Orthodox Churches and in the process of being recuperated in the Latin community, is to also be placed in full light in the Eastern Catholic Churches. The re-establishment of its liturgical and extra-liturgical mission appears, in fact, to be very beneficial.”
Excerpted from Instruction for Applying the Liturgical Prescriptions of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, #76.
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Q: How does a man become a deacon?
A: As in all vocations, a man is called by God to become a deacon. Then he goes through an internal and external discernment process. Internally, he considers whether he is suited to this life of service; externally, others from his eparchy consider his suitability as well. If the man believes that he is called to the diaconate, and others who know him are in agreement, he is then admitted to a four-year program of formal study, both academic and spiritual. The Byzantine Catholic Seminary’s Deacon Formation Program, a graduate level course, consists of a two-week summer residential session which is followed by a distance-learning component that takes place throughout the rest of the year.
Q: How did the role of deacon originate?
A: Deacons have actually been around longer than priests. According to the Acts of the Apostles, seven deacons were chosen to assist church leaders (Acts 6:1-7). They were selected to serve primarily in social ministries, to attend to the poor and needy in particular.
Q: Do deacons serve the same role now as they did then?
A: In many ways, yes. However, the liturgical role of the deacon has become highly developed in the Eastern Churches. The Divine Liturgy of the Byzantine Church is most expressive when bishops, priests, deacons, cantors, readers, choirs and ushers each serve their primary roles. So often today, we are accustomed to seeing only the priest celebrate the Divine Liturgy. But the role of a deacon allows priests to be properly presbyteral, that is, to lead the prayers of the Liturgy and lead the assembly in worship. Also, deacons serve liturgical functions such as chanting the litanies, performing the incensations, proclaiming the Gospel and administering the Eucharist, but they have educational and social ministries as well.
Q: What are the criteria for acceptance to the Diaconate Program?
A: According to Archpriest John Petro, Director of the Deacon Formation Program and Rector of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary, the application process places applicants under significant scrutiny, and the approval procedure is rigorous. “Their pastor must approve their candidacy and their wife must support their entering the program. We evaluate their educational background and they sit for a interview with the Vocation Board of the Archeparchy. Candidates are subjected to psychological testing, physical examination and criminal investigation. We also consider their involvement in their local parish life. We consider deacons an important part of the church, so they must be personally and professionally above repute. Not everyone who applies will be accepted, not everyone who is accepted will finish and not all who finish will necessarily be ordained. Ordination depends upon one’s hierarch.”
Q: What is the proper way to address a deacon?
A: He may be called “Deacon” or “Father Deacon.”
Q: What is the proper attire for a deacon?
A: For liturgical services, he wears a cassock with a sticharion (a brocaded garment) and an orarion (stole). When serving in other ministries such as visiting hospitals or other health care facilities, when teaching or officially representing the Church, the deacon normally wears a clerical collar.
Q: Where do deacons serve, and what are their responsibilities?
A: The diaconal ministry is primarily a parish-based service. Since most deacons are married and have families and jobs, they typically serve in their home parishes. They are very involved in the liturgical and the educational life of the parish. In addition to their liturgical ministry, deacons may serve in teaching positions for both adults and children, sacramental preparation for Christian Initiation and for marriage, visiting those who are home-bound or in a health care facility, and they may take the Eucharist to the sick. Much will depend upon the needs of the parish. In addition, deacons are actively involved in wider church functions such as accompanying the Metropolitan or liturgical services during visits to parishes and in the annual Pilgrimage at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown Pa. |
