rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydeaconChurch officer
noun

deacon

DEE-kun/ˈdiːkən/

A church officer who assists in religious leadership and service.

The deacon places the chalice beside the priest's plate.

A Catholic deacon, identifiable by a diagonal stole over his alb, assists a priest at a simply depicted altar by placing a chalice beside the paten.
Etymology
deaconGreekservant; church official

Greek diakonos meant “servant” and also a church official. That service-centered meaning underlies the deacon’s role as an assistant in worship and religious leadership.

In context

Patristix7:01
it is the deacon that reads the Gospel aloud to the people from the front of the church every single Sunday.
Introduction to the Clergy (Eastern Orthodox)

More examples

  • A deacon helped organize the food collection.
  • Several deacons assisted at the service.
  • She spoke with the deacon after worship.

Forms

deacon · deacons

Similar words

minister
Minister is a broader religious leadership term.
priest
Priest identifies a different office and duties.