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A '''subdeacon''' (or sub-deacon, sometimes 'hypodeacon') is the highest of the [[minor orders]] of [[clergy]] in the Church. This is a sub-clerical order which is higher than the , between [[reader]] and lower than the [[deacon]]. It is an order that is at it's its fullest when serving with a [[bishop]] during hierarchical services.

In common practise==Ordination==The ordination to the subdiaconate is performed outside of the altar and in a context other than the Divine Liturgy, as it is a [[minor orders|minor order]]. During the Sixth Hour, after Psalm 90, the reader who is to be ordained subdeacon is presented to the bishop by two other subdeacons, who first lead him to the nave. There he faces east and makes a prostration before turning to make three prostrations towards the bishop, moving further west after each one. He is then led to stand immediately before the bishop. The subdeacons present the [[orarion|orar]] to the bishop, who blesses it. The ordinand then kisses the orar and the bishop's hand, and the subdeacons vest the ordinand in the orar. The bishop blesses the ordinand three times with the sign of the Cross upon his head, then lays his right hand upon the ordinand's head and prays the prayer of ordination. The new subdeacon kisses the bishop's right hand and makes a prostration before the bishop, after which the more senior subdeacons drape a towel over his shoulders and present him with a ewer and basin, with which he washes the bishop's hands after the usual manner. The bishop dries his hands and the three subdeacons receive the bishop's blessing and kiss his hands. The senior subdeacons return to the altar while the new subdeacon, still holding the ewer and basin, stands on the [[solea]], an facing the icon of the Mother of God and saying particular prayers quietly. The Sixth Hour is completed and the Divine Liturgy continues as usual. The subdeacon remains on the solea until the [[acolyteCherubikon]] or , when he and two senior subdeacons wash the bishop's hands as usual. At the Great Entrance, the new subdeacon joins on the very end of the procession, carrying the ewer and basin and, after the commemorations, takes the blessed water to the people so that they may bless themselves with it. He returns to his place on the solea until the end of the [[readerAnaphora]] can , when he re-enters the altar, lays the ewer and basin aside, and joins the other subdeacons. On the day that a subdeacon is ordained, he may be required to serve at the Liturgy (particularly if there is a shortage of altar servers). In this case, the taking of the blessed water to the people may be omitted, and he may be asked not to stay on the solea but rather to assist with serving duties in the altar and at the entrances. This will depend on jurisdictional preferences. ===Vestments===All degrees of clergy wear the [[sticharion]]. The sticharion is a long-sleeved tunic that reaches all the way to act the ground. It reminds the wearer that the grace of the Holy Spirit covers him as with a garment of salvation and joy. In addition to this, a subdeacon during serviceswill also wear an [[orarion]], representing the grace of the Holy Spirit. The orarion will be tied around his waist, up over his shoulders (forming an X-shaped cross in back), and with the ends hanging down in front, tucked under the section around the waist in an X-shaped cross. In jurisdictions where acolytes are able to wear orarions, they are distinct from subdeacons in that an acolytes orarion hangs straight down in front.

:*Placing [[Orlets|eagle rugs]] on the floor

The bishop blesses the ordinand three times with the sign * Any of the Cross upon his head, then lays his right hand upon the ordinand's head and prays the prayer duties of ordination. The new subdeacon kisses the bishop's right hand and makes a prostration before the bishop, after which the more senior subdeacons drape a towel over his shoulders and present him with a ewer and basin[[Reader]], with which he washes the bishop's hands after the usual manner. The bishop dries his hands and the three subdeacons receive if required* Other duties that the bishop's blessing and kiss his hands.priest may assign

The senior subdeacons return As a member of minor clergy, a subdeacon - according to his abilities - might be entrusted with the altar while the new subdeacon, still holding the ewer and basin, stands on the [[soleas|solea]], facing the icon duties of :* Cantor* Catechist* Other leadership roles in the Mother of God and saying particular prayers quietly. The Sixth Hour is completed and the Divine Liturgy continues as usual. The subdeacon remains on the solea until the [[Cherubikon]], when he and two senior subdeacons wash the bishop's hands as usualcommunity.

At the Great Entrance==Allowances==Subdeacons, the new subdeacon joins on the very end of the processionlike readers, carrying the ewer and basin and, after the commemorations, takes the blessed water to the people so that they may bless themselves with it. He returns are permitted to his place on the solea until the end of the wear a [[Anaphoracassock]], although many do so only when he re-enters the altarattending services; this is done as a sign of his suppression of his own tastes, lays the ewer will and basin asidedesires, and joins his canonical obedience to God, his bishop and the liturgical and canonical norms of the other Church. In jurisdictions that utilise clergy shirts, subdeaconsmay wear a clergy shirt without a collar.

On occasions when there is a shortage In addition, to perform his duties in the care of the altar servers, the newly-ordained a subdeacon may be required is able to serve at touch the Liturgy, in which case the taking table of oblation and the blessed water to the people may be omittedaltar when necessary; though, and he may be asked is not able to stay on the solea but rather to assist with serving duties in move between the altar [[Altar]] and at the entrances. This will depend on jurisdictional preferences[[Holy Doors]].

Subdeacons are mentioned in canons with age restrictions (of 20 years of age) and prohibitions on marriage after ordinations (like deacons and priests) - e.g., Apostolic canon 26 - resulting in subdeacons who are generally mature men. A variety of methods of 'getting around' the dealing with these canons have been employed, from blessing including:* Blessing acolytes or readers to vest and act as a subdeacon (for a particular service temporarily or permanently), or for reserving the formal ordination service to candidates to the priesthood, or for simply ignoring the canons :* This causes a new distinction between a 'blessed subdeacon' and permitting subdeacons to marryan 'ordained subdeacon'. However, it It should be noted that a 'blessedsubdeacon' subdeacon may not touch the altar or assume other perogatives of ordained subdeacons outside services.* Reserving the formal ordination service to candidates for the diaconate==Allowances==Subdeacons, like readers, are permitted to wear a [[cassock]], although many do so only when attending services; this is done as a sign of his suppression of his own tastes, will and desires, and his canonical obedience to God, his bishop and * Simply ignoring the liturgical canons and canonical norms of the Church. In jurisdictions that utilise clergy shirts, permitting subdeacons may wear a clergy shirt without a collarto marry.

During services=== Etiquette ===For formal occasions (for example, in the heading of a letter or when introducing a speaker), one would politely address or refer to a subdeacon is vested in a as "Subdeacon [[sticharionJohn Smith]] with an [[orarion]] tied around his waist." In informal settings, up over his shoulders (forming an X-shaped cross in back)for example, and with the ends hanging down in frontnormal conversation, tucked under the section around the waist in an X-shaped cross. In jurisdictions where acolytes are able it is appropriate to simply refer to wear orarions, they are distinct from subdeacons in that an acolytes orarion hangs straight down in fronta subdeacon by his first name.

When Sacramentally, all subdeacons are equal; if there is no bishop presentare multiple subdeacons, a subdeacon will take they are ranked and serve by seniority according to the role date of acolyte, assisting the priest during religious services in the [[altar]]their ordination. The only exception Additionally, it is not appropriate to kiss a subdeacons hand - this being that a subdeacon is able to touch the table of oblation done for bishops and priests (and the altar when necessaryin some traditions, though he is not able to move between the [[Altar]] and the [[Holy Doors]]deacons).