by St. Cyril of Alexandria What shall we do against these evils, we who have been entrusted by God with the doctrine of the mystery, against whom on the day of judgment those who are introduced into the mysteries will certainly testify? For they will say that they kept the faith as they … [Read more...]
Diaconal Vesture
by Protodeacon David Kennedy This nice article comes from the Eastern Catholic site: The Diaconate In Christ. Apart from clerical attire, which for deacons is generally the same as priests, there is one vestment, namely the sticharion. It is worn with the orarion and the epimanikia which … [Read more...]
The Duties of the Orthodox Deacon
From the Bulgakov Handbook The name deacon in own sense designates a third rank of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. On initial assignment the deacons were servers at the meal of the Lord, i.e. at the fulfillment of the liturgy. They were also ministers of the word of God. The present circle of their … [Read more...]
The Orthodox Diaconate
By Fr. Deacon Photios Touloumes Preface My Lord Bishops, Honoured Hieropriests, Archpriests, Presbyters, Fellow Deacons, and Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I greet you with the words of our Saviour: If any one serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall my … [Read more...]
The Diaconate in the Church Today
by Metropolitan SABA Esper The diaconate, from its inception, has had a clear and definite ministry. With the increase in the number of the faithful, the apostles, after Pentecost, found themselves involved in the application of faith within the domain of the new gathering, especially in the … [Read more...]
Heeding the Call
How do I know when I am called? All the baptized are incorporated into the Church and so called to be holy. The struggle is to determine which call is truly ours amid the many vocations God has for his people. One way to think more carefully about whether or not you are called to the priesthood is … [Read more...]
The Three Degrees of Priesthood
by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos From a study of the sources, chiefly patristic literature, it seems clear that the degrees of priesthood (deacon, priest, bishop) are closely connected with the three basic degrees of the spiritual life. This means that as a man progressed in healing he ascended … [Read more...]
