Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center Deacons

A deacon is an ordained member of the clergy who assists the priest in the ministry to the people and in the celebration of the divine services. He also may help in the administration of the parish.

Order of Hierarchy

The order of hierarchy, beginning with the so-called minor orders and going up the ladder:

Lector or reader
Sub-deacon
Deacon
Priest (then honorary titles such as Archpriest, Archimandrite, Mitred Archpriest, Mitred Archimandrite)
Bishop
Archbishop (sometimes Metropolitan Archbishop)
Patriarch

Title

Deacon is a title that comes from the Greek word "diakonia". "Diakonia" means "service".

Form of Address

Form of Address for one Deacon

The word "Deacon" is singular. For one deacon, the singular form is used.

In some situations, two or more deacons are present. Then, the word "Deacon" can address or refer to any of the present deacons. Then, to specify to which deacon the person is addressing or refering to, "Deacon first name" is used.
For example, "Deacon Boutros" is used to distinguish from "Deacon Boulos".

In some situations, two or more deacons with the same first name are present. Then, to specify to which deacon the person is addressing or refering to, "Deacon first name last name" is used.
For example, "Deacon Boutros Bisharah" is used to distinguish from "Deacon Boutros Diab".

The formal written title is "Deacon first name last name".

Deacons are not called "Deacon last name".

Bishop John Elya's Answers

On the role of Deacons - I wonder why did you say, in your homily at the Ordination of Deacon James Whelan, BSO, on September 18, that "the deacon is an extension of the priest?" I thought that the deacon was originally the extension of the Bishop and later the formation of priests came. (Asked by Elias Sahyouni, Deacon at John the Baptist Melkite Church in Chicago)
Role of the Deacon: "I would like to know the difference between the priest and the deacon can the deacon give a blessing to the people of the church and can he perform marriages and funeral masses. Or does he just assist the priest during the mass by doing the ritualistic part of the mass and proclaim the gospel to the people" Diaconate Program "Does the eparchy have a permanent deaconate program? If so, where can I get information on it."
The Bishop Answers Eparchy of Newton, (Our Lady of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) in Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States) Click on Questions related to the organization of the Melkites Q2

Liturgical Text

English Deacon Ordination Text The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file
Arabic Deacon Ordination Text The Melkite Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, a Microsoft Word .doc file

Paper

What is a Deacon? Saint Ann's Melkite Catholic Church, West Patterson, NJ

What is a Deacon? St. Joseph Melkite Catholic Church, Akron, Ohio

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center
Martha Liles
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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