Acolyte

This article is about religious acolytes. For other uses, seeAcolyte (disambiguation).

The AcolytebyAbraham Solomon,1842

Anacolyteis an assistant or follower assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession. In manyChristian denominations,an acolyte is anyone performing ceremonial duties such as lightingaltar candles.In others, the term is used for one who has been inducted into a particular liturgical ministry, even when not performing those duties.

Etymology

The wordacolyteis derived from theGreekword ἀκόλουθος (akolouthos), meaning an attendant, viaLate Latinacolythus.

Eastern Christianity

Main article:Altar server

An Armenian acolyte holding aripida

In theEastern OrthodoxandByzantine RiteEastern Catholic Churches,the nearest equivalent of acolyte is the altar server. At one time there was a rank of minor clergy called thetaper-bearer(κηροφόρος) responsible for bearing lights duringprocessionsand liturgicalentrances.However, this rank has long ago been subsumed by that of thereaderand the service for thetonsureof a reader begins with the setting-aside of a taper-bearer.

The functions of an acolyte or taper-bearer are therefore carried out by readers,subdeacons,or bynon-tonsured men or boyswho are sometimes called "acolytes" informally. Also, the term "altar-boys" is often used to refer to young altar servers. Subdeacons wear their normal vestments consisting of thesticharionand crossedorarion;readers and servers traditionally wear the sticharion alone.

In recent times, however, in many of the North American Greek Orthodox Churches, for the sake of uniformity, readers have been permitted to wear the orarion (the bishop presents the reader, who is to serve on the altar, with the orarion). Readers do not cross the orarion while wearing it, the uncrossed orarion being intended to slightly distinguish a reader from a subdeacon.

In the Russian tradition, readers wear only the sticharion, and do not wear the orarion unless they have been specially blessed to by their bishop. (This might be done if a reader must occasionally serve in the role of a subdeacon, or for some other reason the bishop believes is fitting.) If a server has not been tonsured, he must remove the sticharion before he can receive Holy Communion.

Western Christianity

Latin Church

Acolytes assisting at the dedication of an altar

Until 1972, the highest of the fourminor ordersin theLatin Churchwas that of acolyte.By hismotu proprioMinisteria quaedamof 15 August 1972,Pope Paul VIreplaced the term "minor orders" by that of "ministries" and the term "ordination" by "institution".He kept throughout theLatin Churchtwo now-titled instituted ministries, those of reader and acolyte.A prescribed interval, as decided by the Holy See and the national episcopal conference, is to be observed between receiving the two.Candidates for diaconate and for priesthood must receive both ministries and exercise them for some time before receiving holy orders.The two instituted ministries are not reserved solely for candidates for holy orders.Ministries are conferred by theordinary:either abishopor the head of a similar territory or, in the case of clerical religious institutes, a major superior.Institutions of acolytes not preparing for holy orders are in fact sometimes carried out.

Themotu proprioassigned to the instituted acolyte the functions previously reserved for thesubdeacon,and declared nationalepiscopal conferencesfree to use the term "subdeacon" in place of that of "acolyte".The functions of the instituted acolyte are specified in themotu proprio,and have been indicated also in theGeneral Instruction of the Roman Missal,no. 98, which under the heading, "The Ministry of the Instituted Acolyte and Lector", says: "The acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. In particular, it is his responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if it is necessary, as an extraordinary minister, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful. In the ministry of the altar, the acolyte has his own functions (cf. nos. 187-193), which he must perform personally."

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal adds: "In the absence of an instituted acolyte, lay ministers may be deputed to serve at the altar and assist the priest and the deacon; they may carry the cross, the candles, thethurible,the bread, the wine, and the water, and they may also be deputed to distribute Holy Communion as extraordinary ministers. "However, some functions, in particular that of cleansing the Eucharistic vessels, are reserved for an instituted acolyte and are not entrusted to those deputed to assist in that way.

As in other churches, in theLatin Churchthe term "acolyte" is also used ofaltar serverson whom no ordination or institution has been conferred.Pope Benedict XVIspoke of SaintTarcisiusas "presumably an acolyte, that is, an altar server".

Pope Francischanged canon law in January 2021 to allow female installed acolytes. Prior to hismotu proprioSpiritus Dominionly men could be installed acolytes.

While the approved English translations of the liturgical books of the Catholic Church's Roman Rite use the term "instituted" (such as "instituted acolytes"and "instituted lectors" ) some translations refer to them as "installed". For example, the translation on the Vatican's website of the 2019 Motu Proprio Aperuit illis – Instituting the Sunday of the Word of God has "Bishops could celebrate the Rite of Installation of Lectors or a similar commissioning of readers…".

Anglicanism

An Episcopal acolyte lighting an altar candle

The order of acolyte was not initially retained withAnglicanismduring theEnglish Reformationtherefore there is no definition of their role in the Book of Common Prayer 1662. The use of acolytes (like many Anglican practices) is very much dependent on local practice, some parishes may refer toaltar serversare often calledacolytes,where as other parishes may have them as a distinctive and formal ministry.Then in Low or Evangelical Parishes the use of Acolytes or altar servers may not exist at all. Where acolytes are used, opinions on gender and age are diverse.

An acolyte can assist in worship by carrying aprocessional cross,lighting candles, holding the Gospel book, holding candles or "torches", assisting adeaconorpriestset up and clean up at thealtar,swinging a censer or thuribleor carrying the incense boat, handing the offering plates to ushers, and many other tasks as seen fit by the priest or acolyte warden.

Methodism and Lutheranism

In theMethodistandLutherantraditions, acolytes participate in the worship service by carrying aprocessional crossor crucifix (these acolytes are calledcrucifers), lighting and extinguishing thealtar candles,and ringing thechurch bellto call the congregation to worship. In these traditions, the lighting of the altar candles in the worship service is a symbol of Jesus' coming into the presence of the worshiping community. Before lighting the candles the acolyte may bow at the altar out of respect. Before the extinguishing of the last altar candles, the acolytes relight their "candle lighter" and then process out into thenarthex.This symbolizes thatJesus Christis for all people everywhere. It also symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ going out into the world where believers are called to serve.Similar to those in theAnglicantradition, acolytes in these traditions wear robes calledalbs,sometimes with acincture.It is also common for Methodist acolytes to wear the traditional cassock and cotta.

See also

• Shgandain Mandaeism

References

• John N. Wall.A Dictionary for Episcopalians.Cambridge, MA:Cowley Publications, 2000.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Acolyte".Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.

External links

• Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Acolyte".Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.