Deacon

A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Scandinavian Lutheran Churches, the Methodist Churches, the Anglican Communion, and the Free Church of England, view the diaconate as an order of ministry. The word deacon is derived from the Greek word diákonos (διάκονος), which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiting-man", "minister", or "messenger". It is generally assumed that the office of deacon originated in the selection of seven men by the apostles, among them Stephen, to assist with the charitable work of the early church as recorded in Acts of the Apostles chapter 6. The Greek word diakónissa (διακόνισσα), meaning deaconess, is not found in the Bible. However, one woman, Phoebe, is mentioned at Romans 16:1–2 as a deacon or deaconess (diákonos) of the church in Cenchreae. Nothing more specific is said about her duties or authority, although it is assumed she carried Paul's Letter to the Romans. Female deacons are mentioned by the Roman author Pliny the Younger in a letter to the Roman emperor Trajan dated 112: I believed it was necessary to find out from two female slaves (ex duabus ancillis) who were called deacons (ministrae), what was true—and to find out through torture (per tormenta) This is the earliest Latin text that appears to refer to female deacons as a distinct category of Christian minister. A biblical description of the qualities required of a deacon can be found in 1 Timothy 3:1–13. Among the more prominent deacons in history are: Stephen, the first Christian martyr (the "protomartyr") Philip, whose baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch is recounted in Acts 8:26–40 Phoebe, who is mentioned in the Letter to the Romans Lawrence, an early Roman martyr Vincent of Saragossa, protomartyr of Spain Francis of Assisi, founder of the mendicant Franciscans Ephrem the Syrian Romanos the Melodist, a prominent early hymnographer Prominent historical figures who played major roles as deacons and went on to higher office include Athanasius of Alexandria, Thomas Becket, and Reginald Pole.