A deacon (Greek: διάκονος – servant, minister) is a minister directly related to a bishop, chosen by ordination as one who represents a lower rank and degree of sacred service in the Church. Deacons are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, where the first mention of organizing service at Christian tables is preserved. The Evangelist Luke describes in detail the election and ordination of seven deacons (Acts 6:1–6), emphasizing that they received their ministry through the “laying on of hands” of the apostles, through which the grace of the Holy Spirit was transmitted. Deacons had a liturgical and catechetical function that was performed only by church ministers or apostles. “It is not fitting for us (the apostles) to neglect the word of God and serve tables” (Acts 6:2), referring to the role that belonged to the deacons in distributing the Eucharist and the agape (Acts 2:42,46). It follows from other places that the deacons preached. One example is the preaching of the deacon Philip in Samaria and other places (Acts 6:10-38). The deacons also administered other Mysteries (Acts 8:28). The Holy Apostle Paul describes the conditions for entering the rank of deacon: A candidate is introduced to the ministry through ordination (1 Tim. 5:22), after being tested for that mission (2 Tim. 3:10), having proven himself suitable for it (1 Tim. 3:8-12). Although the title διάκονος is given to any form of service (διακονίᾳ) in the Church, in the New Testament it denotes a special function, that is, the lowest level of hierarchy. In the Epistle to the Philippians of the Holy Apostle Paul, the ministry of bishops and the ministry of deacons are clearly spoken of (Phil. 1:1).
So, the first testimony about the diaconal service and the election of the first deacons is found in the sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. “Therefore, brothers, look for seven men from among you who are approved, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint to this office” (Acts 6:3). The apostles did not choose the deacons, but left the choice to the people, who were to benefit from the service of the deacons. The people choose and appoint them. The apostles require that those chosen possess qualities that will enable them to serve at a higher level, and not just to care for the needs of those in need.
The seven chosen men, first, must be of good report, as the Apostle Paul testifies (1 Tim. 3:7). This is necessary for the chosen ones to enjoy the trust of the church community, and trust is extremely important because it prevents all the shortcomings of distrust and doubt. Second, the chosen men must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Someone will rightly ask the question: How can such people be recognized? They are recognized by the fruits of the Holy Spirit working in them, by constant piety and unwavering zeal for the glorification of God, by sincere love for their neighbours, by the commandments of the Lord, expressed through good deeds, by honesty and a chaste life. Third, the chosen men must be filled with wisdom. The word “wisdom,” as the Apostle used it, could not simply mean the ability to manage external things or to adequately distribute the necessities of life to the needy. In the teaching of the word of God in general, it signifies both a deep knowledge of divine truths, especially the mysteries of salvation, and the strength and readiness to proclaim the truths of salvation for the edification of others. Thus, all these qualities that were required of the chosen people, at the same time indicated their higher calling – to be ministers of the word of God and the mysteries of salvation. Thus, filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, the archdeacon Stephen preached the Gospel before the Sanhedrin and was stoned for his confession of faith (Acts 7:1–60); thus the deacon Philip carried out a great catechesis, teaching the Ethiopian eunuch, a nobleman of the Ethiopian queen, and baptized him in Jesus Christ, and preached the Gospel in many places (Acts 8:26–40). In his Epistle to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul greets the deacons together with the bishops (Phil. 1:1); and in his first letter to Timothy, he describes the qualities of a deacon as a priest (1 Tim. 3:8–12).
“And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch” (Acts 6:5). Of the seven men, the holy apostle and evangelist Luke in the Acts of the Apostles singles out Stephen, calling him a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, because his works and struggles testified to the steadfastness and strength of his faith and the abundance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit gathered in him. In order to show Stephen’s high value, the apostle further reveals his courageous apostolic work, which crowned him with martyrdom and earned him the epithet of the first martyr (Acts 7:1-60).
“These they set before the apostles, and they prayed to God and laid their hands on them” (Acts 6:6). Thus, through prayer and ordination, the apostles bestowed upon the chosen ones the grace of the Holy Spirit, proportionate to the degree of their ministry. Saint John Chrysostom, explaining these words, says: “Notice how the writer does not say anything superfluous: He does not explain how, but simply says that they were ordained by prayer, for this is how ordination is performed. Hands are laid on a man, but God does everything, and His right hand touches the head of the one who is ordained, if the ordination is performed properly. They were ordained for this ministry, and not only ordained, but prayed for, so that power (grace) would be given to them.”
During one liturgical year, we repeatedly perform a prayerful commemoration of the holy deacons, not only of the first deacons of the Jerusalem Temple, but also of all those who later received the diaconal service and pleased God, there are a large number of such in the church’s Monthly Calendar. When it comes specifically to the holy deacons of the Jerusalem Temple, the holy protomartyr and archdeacon Stephen is celebrated separately, on December 27 / January 9, and the holy deacon Philip, on October 11 / 24. Deacon Nicholas of Antioch was not canonized because of his heresy. The other four do not have special days of celebration, but the holy Church celebrates them conciliarly on July 28 / August 10, although they died at different times and in different places apostolically preaching Christ and sealing their preaching with martyrdom. The church poet glorifies them in unison: “Let us praise Saint Nicanor, Parmenas, and Timon, and with them let Saint Prochorus also be glorified, for they fulfilled the commandments of God the Word, and became givers of gifts to the poor, and fervent suppliants before our God” (fourth stichera on O Lord, I have called you).
We know that the holy deacon Prochorus was a companion of the holy Apostle Peter, who later appointed him bishop of the city of Nicomedia in Bithynia. After the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Saint Prochorus was a companion of the holy Apostle John the Theologian. He travelled and preached with the beloved disciple of the Lord, and was even imprisoned on the island of Patmos, where he wrote down what Saint John the Theologian spoke to him through his own mouth, according to the revelation of God. Saint Prochorus later returned to Nicomedia, where he was the first bishop, preaching the word of God and strengthening the Church of Christ. He died a martyr in Antioch. In the fourth song of the canon of the feast, the God-inspired hymnographer describes his ministry in the following words: “You served, O blessed Prochorus, the Gospel with grace and became an exceptional teacher of Nicomedia, and the holy first hierarch who led the flock of Christ.”
The Holy Deacon Nicanor suffered on the same day that the Holy Archdeacon Stephen was stoned. Since at that time there was a terrible persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, Saint Nicanor suffered martyrdom together with two thousand Jerusalem Christians. Analyzing the hymnography of the conciliar commemoration of the holy deacons Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas, we find in the canon a testimony about the manner of the suffering of the Holy Deacon Nicanor: “Slaughtered by the Jews like a lamb, he was offered as a sacrifice to Christ God” (the fourth song of the canon, the sixth and seventh troparion).
Saint Timon the Deacon was later appointed by the holy apostles as bishop of the city of Bostra in Arabia. Because of his tireless preaching of the name of Christ, he suffered greatly, was thrown into a red-hot furnace, but emerged from the furnace unharmed by the fire. According to the testimony found in the Roman Martyrology, Saint Timon, after emerging unharmed from the furnace, was crucified on the cross. The hymnography describes his ministry as follows: “Saint Timon, you became the shepherd of the city of Bostra and received a blessed martyr’s death, for you were burned in fire and crucified on the cross” (fifth song of the canon, second troparion).
The Holy Deacon Parmenos performed the ministry entrusted to him of serving and preaching the word of God with ardent faith. Saint Parmenos preached the Gospel in Macedonia, where he also died a martyr’s death at the end of the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD).
„Glorious deacons and ministers of the Word of Christ, you have shown yourself to be chosen vessels of faith, Nicanor, Prochorus, Parmenos and Timon, and we glorify you with joy of heart“ (kontakion of the memory of the holy deacons Nicanor, Prochorus, Timon and Parmenos).
WRITTEN BY: Catechist Branislav Ilić, editor of the portal “Kinonia”
*The text was published on the portal Kinonia in the section “From the Editor’s Pen”, on August 25, 2026.
