Diocese of New Jersey | Discernment | The Diaconate

The Golden Age of the Deacon The first three centuries of the church have been called the Golden Age of the Deacon. As Christianity spread, the diaconate flourished. Deacons developed distinctive functions within the Christian community. They were charged with collecting and distributing money to the poor. In particular, the Church of Rome divided itself into seven different districts, over each of which a deacon was given charge of the church?s social services. In addition deacons have always had a special relationship to the bishop, serving as the eyes and ears of the bishop, bringing the concerns of the community to the bishop. The earliest ordination prayer, contained in the writings of Hippolytus, notes that it is the bishop alone who lays hands on deacons.

Deacons also had roles within the liturgy, calling the people to prayer, reading the Gospel, and assisting in the distribution of communion. Deacons were also integral to the preparation of those seeking baptism (called catechumens). At that time, a catechumen underwent a three-year period of preparation. Deacons both taught and prepared the catechumens as well as assisted the bishop in the actual baptismal rite.

This was also the time of famous deacons within the church, from Lawrence, deacon of the Church of Rome, to Ephraim of Syria, preacher and hymn-writer. It was also a period when deacons, as a result of their close ties with the bishop and with church administration, were elected bishop. Athanasius of Alexandria, steady defender of Nicene orthodoxy, was perhaps the best example of this. He was first a deacon and secretary to the Bishop of Alexandria at the Council of Nicaea (325) and was eventually elected bishop himself. The diaconate was often held for life. The progression from deacon to presbyter to bishop, though becoming increasingly more common, was still not the norm.

NEXT: The Shift to a Transitional Diaconate and
The Diaconate Obscured