Editing Deacon (section)

== Origin and development ==
The word ''deacon'' is derived from the Greek word {{transliteration|grc|diákonos}} ({{lang|grc|διάκονος}}),<ref>{{cite web | title = deacon | publisher = Bartleby | url = http://www.bartleby.com/61/11/D0051100.html | work = The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language | edition = 4th | year = 2000 | access-date = 2008-08-17 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090125205604/http://www.bartleby.com/61/11/D0051100.html | archive-date = 2009-01-25 }}</ref> which is a standard [[ancient Greek]] word meaning "servant", "waiter", "minister", or "messenger".<ref>{{cite book |url= https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0058%3Aentry%3D%237832 |title=An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon | last1 =Liddell | first1 = Henry George | last2 =Scott | first2 = Robert | author2-link =Robert Scott (philologist)  | author1-link=Henry Liddell |year=1889 | publisher =Clarendon Press |location=Oxford | access-date=2007-10-18 |isbn = 0-19-910206-6}}</ref> Recent research has highlighted the role of the deacon "as a co-operator" and "go-between," emphasizing their intermediary position in early Christian communities.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Collins | first = John Neil | title = Diakonia - Reinterpreting the Ancient Sources | year = 1990 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = Oxford | isbn = 0195060679}} ; {{Cite book | last = Koet | first = Bart J. | chapter = A Tale of Deacons and Deaconesses | editor = Bart J. Koet, Edwina Murphy & Esko Ryökäs | title = Deacons and Diakonia in Late Antiquity, The Third Century Onwards | date = 2024 | pages = 432–464 | publisher = Mohr Siebeck | isbn = 978-3-16-162404-9}} </ref>

It is generally assumed that the office of deacon originated in the selection of seven men by the apostles, among them [[Saint Stephen|Stephen]], to assist with the charitable work of the early church as recorded in [[Acts of the Apostles]] chapter 6.<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|6}}</ref><ref>{{CathEncy |id=04647c | title =Deacons |first= Herbert |last = Thurston | access-date=2007-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hopko |first=Thomas |title=Holy Orders |url=http://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=57 |access-date=2007-10-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021131809/http://oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=57 |archive-date=2007-10-21 }}</ref> Newer research emphasizes that while the deacons' role was indeed to help, their assistance involved more liturgical, teaching and leadership functions than purely charitable work.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Koet | first = Bart J. | chapter = A Tale of Deacons and Deaconesses | editor = Bart J. Koet, Edwina Murphy & Esko Ryökäs | title = Deacons and Diakonia in Late Antiquity, The Third Century Onwards | date = 2024 | pages = 432–464 | publisher = Mohr Siebeck | isbn = 978-3-16-162404-9}}</ref>

The Greek word {{transliteration|grc|[[Diakonissa|diakónissa]]}} ({{lang|grc|διακόνισσα}}), meaning deaconess, is not found in the Bible. However, one woman, [[Phoebe (Bible)|Phoebe]], is mentioned at Romans 16:1–2<ref>{{bibleverse|Romans|16:1–2}}</ref> as a deacon or deaconess ({{langx|grc|διάκονος|diákonos|label=none}}) 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]].

[[Deaconess|Female deacons]] are mentioned by the Roman author [[Pliny the Younger]] in a [[Pliny the Younger on Christians|letter]] to the Roman emperor [[Trajan]] dated {{c.|112}}:

{{quote|I believed it was necessary to find out from [[List of Christian women of the patristic age|two female slaves]] ({{lang|la|ex duabus ancillis}}) who were called deacons ({{lang|la|ministrae}}), what was true—and to find out through torture ({{lang|la|per tormenta}})<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Ordained Women in the Early Church|last=Madigan|first=Kevin|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|year=2011|isbn=978-0-8018-7932-6|location=Baltimore, MD|pages=26}}</ref>}}

This is the earliest Latin text that appears to refer to female deacons as a distinct category of Christian minister.<ref name=":0" />

A biblical description of the qualities required of a deacon can be found in 1 Timothy 3:1–13.<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Timothy|3:1–13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/deacon-deaconess.html|title=Deacon, Deaconess - Bible Meaning & Definition - Baker's Dictionary|website=Bible Study Tools}}</ref>

The Synod of [[Arles]] in 314 and the [[First Council of Nicaea]] denied deacons the possibility of presiding over the [[Eucharist]] even in exceptional cases.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www-vatican-va.translate.goog/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_con_cfaith_pro_05072004_diaconate_it.html?_x_tr_sl=it&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=it&_x_tr_pto=wapp|title=The Diacinate: Evolution and Prospects|year=2003|website=Holy See|author=[[International Theological Commission]]}}</ref>

Among the more prominent deacons in history are:

* [[Saint Stephen|Stephen]], the first Christian martyr (the "protomartyr")
* [[Philip the Evangelist|Philip]], whose baptism of the [[Ethiopian eunuch]] is recounted in Acts 8:26–40<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|8:26–40}}</ref>
* [[Phoebe (biblical figure)|Phoebe]], who is mentioned in the Letter to the Romans
* [[Saint Lawrence|Lawrence]], an early Roman martyr
* [[Saint Vincent of Saragossa|Vincent of Saragossa]], protomartyr of Spain
* [[Saint Francis of Assisi|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]]. On June 8, 536, a serving Roman deacon was raised to Pope, [[Silverius]].

The diaconate has been retained as a separate [[vocation]] in [[Eastern Christianity]], while in [[Western Christianity]] it was largely used in cathedrals and as a temporary step along the path toward priestly ordination. In the 20th century, the diaconate was restored as a vocational order in many Western churches, most notably in the [[Catholic Church]], the [[Anglican Communion]], and the [[United Methodist Church]].