Protodeaconderives from theGreekproto-meaning 'first' anddiakonos,which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "assistant", "servant", or "waiting-man". The word inEnglishmay refer to any of various clergy, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.
Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches
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Protodeacon is an honorific rank given to certain marrieddeaconsinEastern Christianchurches. In theRussian Orthodox Churchit is an honorary title given to married deacons, as a mark of which, the clergyman is entitled to wear aburgundy-coloredskufia.The equivalent rank forhierodeacons—i.e.,monasticdeacons—isarchdeacon.The senior deacon of acathedralorprincipal churchmay be awarded the title of protodeacon. In the Greek usage, the chief deacon who is attached to the person of a bishop is called an archdeacon. In the Slavic usage a protodeacon or archdeacon wears a distinctiveorarion(deacon's stole).
The title of protodeacon is an award, not a distinctiveorder of ministry;so while a man may beordaineda deacon, he is said to be 'elevated' to the rank of protodeacon. This elevation may be awarded only by the deacon's ownruling bishop.Theriteof elevation is identical for both a protodeacon and an archdeacon, and is normally done during theLittle Entranceof theDivine Liturgy.
A protodeacon hasprecedencewhen serving with other deacons, regardless of the date of his own ordination to the diaconate. If several protodeacons serve at the same time, their order of precedence is determined by the date of their elevation.
In theArchieratikon(Slavonic:Chinovnik), theliturgical bookcontaining the services as celebrated by abishop,the term Protodeacon is used to refer to the senior-ranking deacon who is serving, regardless of whether or not he has actually had that rank bestowed upon him.
Latin Church
editIn theRoman rite,the seniorCardinal Deaconis the Cardinal Protodeacon of the Holy Roman Church. He has the privilege of announcing the newpope's election and name (once he has been ordained to the episcopate)[1]in theHabemus Papamannouncement given from the central balcony atSt. Peter's BasilicainVatican City State.In the past, during papal coronations, the Protodeacon also had the honor of bestowing the pallium on the new pope and crowning him with thepapal tiara.However, in 1978 Pope John Paul I chose not to be crowned and opted for a simpler papal inauguration ceremony, and his successors have followed that example. As a result, the Cardinal Protodeacon's privilege of crowning a new pope is dormant. However, the Protodeacon still has the privilege of bestowing the pallium on a new pope at his papal inauguration. “Acting in the place of theRoman Pontiff,he also confers the pallium uponmetropolitan bishopsor gives the pallium to their proxies.”[2]The current Cardinal Protodeacon isDominique Mamberti.[3]
Canon law references
edit- ^"Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis".Libreria Editrice Vaticana.No. 89.Vatican.va.1996.Retrieved9 February2020.
- ^"Code of Canon Law 355 §2".Libreria Editrice Vaticana.Vatican.va.Retrieved9 February2020.
- ^"Assegnazione del titolo presbiterale ad alcuni cardinali diaconi creati nel consistoro del 21 ottobre 2003".Vatican.va(in Italian). 12 June 2014.Retrieved14 June2014.
External links
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