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

==Ordination==The subdeacon's essential role ordination to the subdiaconate is to assist performed outside of the [[bishop]] during altar and in a hierarchical [[context other than the Divine Liturgy]] (a Divine Liturgy at which , as it is a bishop is present and presiding) by [[vestmentsminor orders|vestingminor order]] him. During the Sixth Hour, holding his service bookafter Psalm 90, carrying his staffthe reader who is to be ordained subdeacon is presented to the bishop by two other subdeacons, presenting who first lead him with to the [[dikiri]] nave. There he faces east and [[trikiri]]makes a prostration before turning to make three prostrations towards the bishop, etcmoving further west after each one. There He is a special service for then led to stand immediately before the bishop. The subdeacons present the [[ordinationorarion|orar]] of a subdeacon, although in contemporary practice an [[acolyte]] or a reader may receive to the bishop's blessing to vest and act as a subdeacon, either for a particular occasion or permanentlywho blesses it. The main reason for this practice lies in ordinand then kisses the fact that orar and the canons (e.g. Apostolic canon 26 et al.) prohibit subdeacons to marry after their ordination (just like deacons bishop's hand, and [[priest]]s). This latter stipulation has sometimes led to the reservation of subdeacons vest the formal ordination service to candidates for ordinand in the priesthood, although this is not universalorar.

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 is vested in kisses the bishop's right hand and makes a [[sticharion]] with an [[orarion]] tied around his waistprostration before the bishop, up after which the more senior subdeacons drape a towel over his shoulders (forming and present him with a cross in back)ewer and basin, and with which he washes the ends hanging down in front, tucked under bishop's hands after the section around usual manner. The bishop dries his hands and the waist. Like readers, three subdeacons are permitted to wear a [[cassock]], although many only do so when attending servicesreceive the bishop's blessing and kiss his hands.

When there is no bishop presentThe senior subdeacons return to the altar while the new subdeacon, still holding the ewer and basin, stands on the [[solea]], a subdeacon will take facing the icon of the role Mother of acolyte, assisting God and saying particular prayers quietly. The Sixth Hour is completed and the Divine Liturgy continues as usual. The subdeacon remains on the priest during religious services in solea until the [[altarCherubikon]], when he and two senior subdeacons wash the bishop's hands as usual. == Sources ==

*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 [[Wikipedia:SubdeaconAnaphora]], when he re-enters the altar, lays the ewer and basin aside, and joins the other subdeacons.

===Vestments===All degrees of clergy wear the [[sticharion]]. The sticharion is a long-sleeved tunic that reaches all the way to 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 will 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. ==Duties==The ordained subdeacon has the following duties:* Serving in the altar, generally as the head server* Co-ordinating and leading the serving team* Training new altar servers* Care of the altar area, including:*Cleaning the altar area:*Looking after the vestments of clergy:*Looking after the cloths of the Holy Table, including cleaning, mending and changing them according to feasts, fasts and seasons * To assist the bishop when he is presiding, by::*Vesting the bishop:*Holding the bishop's service book:*Carrying the bishop's staff:*Presenting the bishop with the [[dikiri]] and [[trikiri]]:*Placing [[Orlets|eagle rugs]] on the floor:*Operating the veil and the curtain of the Royal Doors:*Other duties that the bishop may assign * Any of the duties of a [[Reader]], if required* Other duties that the priest may assign As a member of minor clergy, a subdeacon - according to his abilities - might be entrusted with the duties of:* Cantor* Catechist* Other leadership roles in the community.  ==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 the liturgical and canonical norms of the Church. In jurisdictions that utilise clergy shirts, subdeacons may wear a clergy shirt without a collar. In addition, to perform his duties in the care of the altar, a subdeacon is able to touch the table of oblation and the altar when necessary; though, he is not able to move between the [[Altar]] and the [[Holy Doors]]. ==Contemporary practise==In the common event that there is no bishop present, a subdeacon will take the role of acolyte, assisting the priest during religious services in the [[altar]]. In some jurisdictions, a seminarian who has discerned that he does not have a calling to pastoral service can be ordained to the subdiaconate. 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. A variety of methods of dealing with these canons have been employed, including:* Blessing acolytes or readers to vest and act as a subdeacon temporarily or permanently:* This causes a new distinction between a 'blessed subdeacon' and an 'ordained subdeacon'. It should be noted that a 'blessed 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* Simply ignoring the canons and permitting subdeacons to marry. === 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 as "Subdeacon [John Smith]." In informal settings, for example, in normal conversation, it is appropriate to simply refer to a subdeacon by his first name. Sacramentally, all subdeacons are equal; if there are multiple subdeacons, they are ranked and serve by seniority according to the date of their ordination. Additionally, it is not appropriate to kiss a subdeacons hand - this is done for bishops and priests (and in some traditions, deacons). ==Source==*[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subdeacon&oldid=417045616 Subdeacon Wikipedia article], revision on 4/March/2011. ==External link==*[http://www.saintelias.com/EtiquetteKKca/FrWho_eliaetiquette/FrWho_eliafrwho.html php Who's Who ? in Church Services?]