Deacon

Deacon (Greek diakonos, “servant”), assistant to the clergy in a Christian church. Deacons form a minor holy order in the Roman Catholic church and an important class of clergy in the Orthodox church. In Protestant churches deacons are usually laymen given special church responsibilities. Some Protestants maintain the office of deaconess, women who undergo religious training and devote themselves to serving the church.

See also: Christianity.