Subdeacons

[Michał Kalina]

What do subdeacons do during the Liturgy when there is no bishop present?

[serb1389]

They are utterly useless.  done.   

[choy]

Fancily dressed altar boys 

[maryofegypt]

In a former parish of ours, they were basically altar server wranglers (and kept the little ones from setting themselves or other things on fire...). 

[Cyrillic]

Fancily dressed altar boys 

You're a subdeacon now? In any case, you do have fancy vestments.

[Αριστοκλής]

In our parish the sub-deacon is the best chanter. Never out of work...

[arimethea]

What do subdeacons do during the Liturgy when there is no bishop present?

I have been told there is no reason for a subdeacon to even vest if there is no bishop present.

[choy]

Fancily dressed altar boys 

You're a subdeacon now? In any case, you do have fancy vestments.

I don't have an orarion

[Cyrillic]

Fancily dressed altar boys 

You're a subdeacon now? In any case, you do have fancy vestments.

I don't have an orarion

At least not yet

[Marc1152]

What do subdeacons do during the Liturgy when there is no bishop present?

I have been told there is no reason for a subdeacon to even vest if there is no bishop present.

Okay, but shouldnt adult alter servers be Readers or better? 

[choy]

Fancily dressed altar boys 

You're a subdeacon now? In any case, you do have fancy vestments.

I don't have an orarion

At least not yet

Maybe not in the Eastern Catholic Church

[Cyrillic]

Fancily dressed altar boys 

You're a subdeacon now? In any case, you do have fancy vestments.

I don't have an orarion

At least not yet

Maybe not in the Eastern Catholic Church

I see what you're getting at 

(my eyes start to hurt from all that blinking)

[88Devin12]

From how I understand it, traditionally there isn't an altar boy role. Rather, altar boys are assumed to be readers/subdeacons in training.

I know in the Antiochian parish I visit every so often, their altar boys are all dressed as subdeacons. However, their Bishop ordains some of them and allows them to get married after.

Yet in the OCA, or at least under our Bishop, and traditionally, you must be married prior to being made a subdeacon.

If there is just one subdeacon among several altar servers, he may act as sacristan.

[Michał Kalina]

If there is just one subdeacon among several altar servers, he may act as sacristan.

Act as who?

[choy]

I see what you're getting at 

(my eyes start to hurt from all that blinking)

I just feel that I do not belong which is why I was alwas hesitant to pursue a vocation where I am today.

[age234]

I've only been to one Antiochian parish that has subdeacons (2), and the priest allows them to each lead the people in one little litany in the service. They also chant the prokeimenon and epistle.

[LBK]

I know in the Antiochian parish I visit every so often, their altar boys are all dressed as subdeacons.

Not quite. The Greek and Antiochian tradition is for altarboys to be vested in stikharion and orarion (Russian is stikharion only), but there is a difference in how the orarion is arranged for altarboy and subdeacon:

Both have the orarion horizontal at the waist and crossed across the back in an X shape. The subdeacon has the arms of the orarion crossed over into an X across the front, with the ends tucked behind the waistband; the altarboy has the arms pointing vertically, not crossed.

A subtle but important difference.

[88Devin12]

I know in the Antiochian parish I visit every so often, their altar boys are all dressed as subdeacons.

Not quite. The Greek and Antiochian tradition is for altarboys to be vested in stikharion and orarion (Russian is stikharion only), but there is a difference in how the orarion is arranged for altarboy and subdeacon:

Both have the orarion horizontal at the waist and crossed across the back in an X shape. The subdeacon has the arms of the orarion crossed over into an X across the front, with the ends tucked behind the waistband; the altarboy has the arms pointing vertically, not crossed.

A subtle but important difference.

I think theirs are crossed in front, not vertical. It may be a slight mistake in vesting in that parish though. (like some parishes putting Archangels Michael & Gabriel on the wrong sides)

[Orthodox11]

A subtle but important difference.

So subtle it is often ignored.

[LBK]

(like some parishes putting Archangels Michael & Gabriel on the wrong sides)

True ... 

[serb1389]

(like some parishes putting Archangels Michael & Gabriel on the wrong sides)

True ... 

We have that.  Ugh.

[Shanghaiski]

I know in the Antiochian parish I visit every so often, their altar boys are all dressed as subdeacons.

Not quite. The Greek and Antiochian tradition is for altarboys to be vested in stikharion and orarion (Russian is stikharion only), but there is a difference in how the orarion is arranged for altarboy and subdeacon:

Both have the orarion horizontal at the waist and crossed across the back in an X shape. The subdeacon has the arms of the orarion crossed over into an X across the front, with the ends tucked behind the waistband; the altarboy has the arms pointing vertically, not crossed.

A subtle but important difference.

In my parish, altar boys wear sticharions but not orarions--dresses but no floppy things.

[age234]

I know in the Antiochian parish I visit every so often, their altar boys are all dressed as subdeacons.

Not quite. The Greek and Antiochian tradition is for altarboys to be vested in stikharion and orarion (Russian is stikharion only), but there is a difference in how the orarion is arranged for altarboy and subdeacon:

Both have the orarion horizontal at the waist and crossed across the back in an X shape. The subdeacon has the arms of the orarion crossed over into an X across the front, with the ends tucked behind the waistband; the altarboy has the arms pointing vertically, not crossed.

A subtle but important difference.

I've never seen an altar boy wear an oration...

[mildert]

What do subdeacons do during the Liturgy when there is no bishop present?

Act as senior Altar servers.

[Michał Kalina]

What do subdeacons do during the Liturgy when there is no bishop present?

Act as senior Altar servers.

With orarions on?

What do you mean by "senior"?

[sheenj]

What do subdeacons do during the Liturgy when there is no bishop present?

Act as senior Altar servers.

With orarions on?

What do you mean by "senior"?

Probably means he gets first dibs on readings.

[choy]

With orarions on?

What do you mean by "senior"?

If he doesn't feel like doing something he gets to tell the other servers to do it for him  

Proto-Server  
or Arch-Server 

[Michał Kalina]

If he doesn't feel like doing something he gets to tell the other servers to do it for him 

I stopped serving before I reached that level

[88Devin12]

With orarions on?

What do you mean by "senior"?

If he doesn't feel like doing something he gets to tell the other servers to do it for him  

Proto-Server  
or Arch-Server  

LOL, I guess it could be that. I think of it as being entrusted to instruct new ones. Your also usually expected to be the one to clean up the altar area: dusting, sweeping, cleaning candle wax and replacing candles, filling the oil, trimming candle wicks, making sure the table of preparation has wine and water ready (usually in glass containers), cleaning the censer and other brass & metal things, making sure there is enough incense, and coal, organizing liturgical books and supplies, cleaning icons (usually with Rose Water), making sure icons are in the right places (people take them down for veneration and misplace them after), and sometimes making sure to remind the Priest to do stuff, like bless icons or holy water.

Individually those are small jobs, but together it could be an extra 10-30 minutes depending on how bad things are.

The other altar servers help in the service and may help clean, but I think it's good to have at least one person dedicated to the job so it always gets done.

[HabteSelassie]

Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

They are utterly useless.  done.  

Weren't they always? I mean these lazy deacons, just standing around doing

 ..EVERYTHING at the same time

stay blessed,
habte selassie

[choy]

With orarions on?

What do you mean by "senior"?

If he doesn't feel like doing something he gets to tell the other servers to do it for him  

Proto-Server  
or Arch-Server  

LOL, I guess it could be that. I think of it as being entrusted to instruct new ones. Your also usually expected to be the one to clean up the altar area: dusting, sweeping, cleaning candle wax and replacing candles, filling the oil, trimming candle wicks, making sure the table of preparation has wine and water ready (usually in glass containers), cleaning the censer and other brass & metal things, making sure there is enough incense, and coal, organizing liturgical books and supplies, cleaning icons (usually with Rose Water), making sure icons are in the right places (people take them down for veneration and misplace them after), and sometimes making sure to remind the Priest to do stuff, like bless icons or holy water.

Individually those are small jobs, but together it could be an extra 10-30 minutes depending on how bad things are.

The other altar servers help in the service and may help clean, but I think it's good to have at least one person dedicated to the job so it always gets done.

I'm not a subdeacon but I already do most of this.  Maybe time to ask for a "promotion"

[88Devin12]

With orarions on?

What do you mean by "senior"?

If he doesn't feel like doing something he gets to tell the other servers to do it for him  

Proto-Server  
or Arch-Server  

LOL, I guess it could be that. I think of it as being entrusted to instruct new ones. Your also usually expected to be the one to clean up the altar area: dusting, sweeping, cleaning candle wax and replacing candles, filling the oil, trimming candle wicks, making sure the table of preparation has wine and water ready (usually in glass containers), cleaning the censer and other brass & metal things, making sure there is enough incense, and coal, organizing liturgical books and supplies, cleaning icons (usually with Rose Water), making sure icons are in the right places (people take them down for veneration and misplace them after), and sometimes making sure to remind the Priest to do stuff, like bless icons or holy water.

Individually those are small jobs, but together it could be an extra 10-30 minutes depending on how bad things are.

The other altar servers help in the service and may help clean, but I think it's good to have at least one person dedicated to the job so it always gets done.

I'm not a subdeacon but I already do most of this.  Maybe time to ask for a "promotion"

I'm not either, as per the earlier posts, that was referring to the role of proto-server, arch-server, sacristan. I could see the subdeacon being given that role.

[Iconodule]

I know of a young boy who was an altar server at an OCA parish in the USA and really enjoyed it. When his family moved to Bulgaria, he wanted to continue being an altar boy- however, there is no real tradition of altar boys in Bulgaria. What happened instead? The bishop ordained him a subdeacon. Sometimes the family is back in the States and our parish is blessed with the world's littlest subdeacon in full vestments. With no bishop present though, his actual role is the same as an altar boy.

[Michał Kalina]

I know of a young boy who was an altar server at an OCA parish in the USA and really enjoyed it. When his family moved to Bulgaria, he wanted to continue being an altar boy- however, there is no real tradition of altar boys in Bulgaria. What happened instead? The bishop ordained him a subdeacon. Sometimes the family is back in the States and our parish is blessed with the world's littlest subdeacon in full vestments. With no bishop present though, his actual role is the same as an altar boy.

When I was in Bulgaria I've noticed there are some teenage boys in subdeacons' vestments. I was quite surprised.

What happens when they would like to marry?

[LBK]

I know of a young boy who was an altar server at an OCA parish in the USA and really enjoyed it. When his family moved to Bulgaria, he wanted to continue being an altar boy- however, there is no real tradition of altar boys in Bulgaria. What happened instead? The bishop ordained him a subdeacon. Sometimes the family is back in the States and our parish is blessed with the world's littlest subdeacon in full vestments. With no bishop present though, his actual role is the same as an altar boy.

When I was in Bulgaria I've noticed there are some teenage boys in subdeacons' vestments. I was quite surprised.

What happens when they would like to marry?

They might not be subdeacons. Look at my earlier post on the difference in vesting.

[Monk Vasyl]

I know of a young boy who was an altar server at an OCA parish in the USA and really enjoyed it. When his family moved to Bulgaria, he wanted to continue being an altar boy- however, there is no real tradition of altar boys in Bulgaria. What happened instead? The bishop ordained him a subdeacon. Sometimes the family is back in the States and our parish is blessed with the world's littlest subdeacon in full vestments. With no bishop present though, his actual role is the same as an altar boy.

When I was in Bulgaria I've noticed there are some teenage boys in subdeacons' vestments. I was quite surprised.

What happens when they would like to marry?

They might not be subdeacons. Look at my earlier post on the difference in vesting.

They could also be "blessed" subdeacons.  Archbishop Job, of eternal memory, blessed both me and another server to ware the subdeacon's orarion.

[smithakd]

What subdeacons are permitted to do and what subdeacons practically do will probably vary depending on the jurisdiction/liturgical tradition.  I can really only speak of the ROCOR practises here on any level of personal experience.

In ROCOR practise, subdeacons are permitted to touch the altar and the oblations table.  For this reason, subdeacons are able to change the colours of the altar cloths and vestments, as well as move or clean various sacred vessels (which is /really/ helpful).  They will often also function as a 'head altar server' (and potentially a reader, if required).

There are some traditions that have essentially done away with subdeacons (aside from the time between ordaining a man to be subdeacon before Liturgy then deacon after the Anaphora), as well as some traditions that do different things again (I've heard of some traditions where subdeacons will intone litanies, or distribute communion) - but that will depend on the tradition and the bishop, I guess.

[Marc1152]

What subdeacons are permitted to do and what subdeacons practically do will probably vary depending on the jurisdiction/liturgical tradition.  I can really only speak of the ROCOR practises here on any level of personal experience.

In ROCOR practise, subdeacons are permitted to touch the altar and the oblations table.  For this reason, subdeacons are able to change the colours of the altar cloths and vestments, as well as move or clean various sacred vessels (which is /really/ helpful).  They will often also function as a 'head altar server' (and potentially a reader, if required).

There are some traditions that have essentially done away with subdeacons (aside from the time between ordaining a man to be subdeacon before Liturgy then deacon after the Anaphora), as well as some traditions that do different things again (I've heard of some traditions where subdeacons will intone litanies, or distribute communion) - but that will depend on the tradition and the bishop, I guess.

Since Bishops visit irregularly, how would a sub deacon learn how to properly vest a Bishop? Ive helped three or four times but not often enough to remember much.

[username!]

With orarions on?

What do you mean by "senior"?

If he doesn't feel like doing something he gets to tell the other servers to do it for him  

Proto-Server  
or Arch-Server  

LOL, I guess it could be that. I think of it as being entrusted to instruct new ones. Your also usually expected to be the one to clean up the altar area: dusting, sweeping, cleaning candle wax and replacing candles, filling the oil, trimming candle wicks, making sure the table of preparation has wine and water ready (usually in glass containers), cleaning the censer and other brass & metal things, making sure there is enough incense, and coal, organizing liturgical books and supplies, cleaning icons (usually with Rose Water), making sure icons are in the right places (people take them down for veneration and misplace them after), and sometimes making sure to remind the Priest to do stuff, like bless icons or holy water.

Individually those are small jobs, but together it could be an extra 10-30 minutes depending on how bad things are.

The other altar servers help in the service and may help clean, but I think it's good to have at least one person dedicated to the job so it always gets done.

I'm not a subdeacon but I already do most of this.  Maybe time to ask for a "promotion"

You can't;
touch the altar or proskomedia table
go through the royal doors when appointed (usually serving and taking the burial shroud out with the bishop)
touch the chalice etc..
distribute communion (ACROD subdeacons can if blessed)
Aren't ordained a subdeacon
chant litanies (depends on jurisdiction)

Even if you are blessed to cross the stole like a subdeacon you still can't do the above.  Sorry, it's the way the rules go.

[username!]

What subdeacons are permitted to do and what subdeacons practically do will probably vary depending on the jurisdiction/liturgical tradition.  I can really only speak of the ROCOR practises here on any level of personal experience.

In ROCOR practise, subdeacons are permitted to touch the altar and the oblations table.  For this reason, subdeacons are able to change the colours of the altar cloths and vestments, as well as move or clean various sacred vessels (which is /really/ helpful).  They will often also function as a 'head altar server' (and potentially a reader, if required).

There are some traditions that have essentially done away with subdeacons (aside from the time between ordaining a man to be subdeacon before Liturgy then deacon after the Anaphora), as well as some traditions that do different things again (I've heard of some traditions where subdeacons will intone litanies, or distribute communion) - but that will depend on the tradition and the bishop, I guess.

Since Bishops visit irregularly, how would a sub deacon learn how to properly vest a Bishop? Ive helped three or four times but not often enough to remember much.

A good subdeacon knows the ins and outs of each service.  He remembers them OR studies them before hand.  That's how.   
Technically the subdeacon is in service of the deacon during the liturgy (with bishop). 
A subdeacon was also tonsured a reader.  Therefore he can do the functions of a reader. 
He supersedes readers in communion line. Hence he is the first in line to receive communion outside of the altar.

[username!]

I know in the Antiochian parish I visit every so often, their altar boys are all dressed as subdeacons.

Not quite. The Greek and Antiochian tradition is for altarboys to be vested in stikharion and orarion (Russian is stikharion only), but there is a difference in how the orarion is arranged for altarboy and subdeacon:

Both have the orarion horizontal at the waist and crossed across the back in an X shape. The subdeacon has the arms of the orarion crossed over into an X across the front, with the ends tucked behind the waistband; the altarboy has the arms pointing vertically, not crossed.

A subtle but important difference.

I've never seen an altar boy wear an oration...

Go to a greek parish.. everyone wears a stole.  they just don't cross it in front.  It's a ridiculous practice.
Most people in my experience that aren't from "everything has to be organized america" will have no clue what you mean by senior altar server.

[username!]

I've only been to one Antiochian parish that has subdeacons (2), and the priest allows them to each lead the people in one little litany in the service. They also chant the prokeimenon and epistle.

Yes the Arabs allow the subdeacons to actually perform their role a little more than other dioceses/jurisdictions.  Subdeacons were readers before they were subdeacons.  Historically readers had more roles than they do today.  Remember many of our parishes grew without the full traditions.  Technically no one that is not clergy should be reading the epistle or intoning the prokimenon etc...  But in the "everyone has to have a chair in musical chairs america" that we live in you can't step on mrs. johnson's toes when she wants to do all the reader functions with a reader present during the service.

the American-Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese allows certain subdeacons to distribute communion in large parishes.  Don't beat me up for telling you, it's their practice.  Subdeacons historically had much more roles than they do today I think.
Example me and the deacon helped the priest fix up the altar.. there were other guys on the altar getting it ready for Pascha I believe.  Father said, I need to fix the rug that goes in front of the altar table and under it. Some of the guys said "ok I'll do it"  Father said, no deacon ___ and username! and I are the only ones that are able to do this thank you guys though!  Not every parish is strict like that and many slack because they allow the laity to run them over because of the congregationalist parish councils.  However this priest runs the parish not as a democracy and the parish council does not have the "we own the priest he's our employee" attitude like 72.45% of parishes in the USA are ran.   Take that out of the equation and all clergy minor and major get to function on their known roles and it makes for a very well conducted service.  Just like the sluzhebnik calls for.

[username!]

They are utterly useless.  done.   

We're the bishop's flunkies I was told. 

[username!]

What do subdeacons do during the Liturgy when there is no bishop present?

If not serving stand with my family or sing in the choir and chant the epistle.  Don't worry I'm never going to use the word "ipodiakon" in front of my username. 

[Michał Kalina]

You can't;
touch the altar or proskomedia table

In this part of the world altar servers can touch sacrifice table.

[katherineofdixie]

They are utterly useless.  done.   

We're the bishop's flunkies I was told. 

My husband refers to himself as a liturgical potted plant, or Chief Censer Holder.

[Alpo]

You can't;
touch the altar or proskomedia table

In this part of the world altar servers can touch sacrifice table.

How recent that custom is?

[podkarpatska]

They are utterly useless.  done.  

We're the bishop's flunkies I was told.  

My husband refers to himself as a liturgical potted plant, or Chief Censer Holder.

My late father used to refer to sub-deacons as 'glorified (he didn't mean elevated to Sainthood either! lol) altar boys.' He would always chuckle at the memory of a headline in the Buffalo, NY paper following a huge pan-Orthodox liturgy during world war two which was attended by several thousand at the local concert hall during which several Greek altar boys were made sub-deacons by the then Archbishop Athenagoras. My dad was a newly ordained priest at the time and he remembered it well. The service was long, it was a hot summer Sunday and two of the about to be newly minted sub-deacons passed out at the critical moment. The headline ran: "Would-be Clerics Faint during Lengthy Service." Oh well....

[Joseph Hazen]

I'm just a Reader (which I too refer to as "a glorified altar boy"  ) but I pretty regularly set up the altar for feasts, ironing the altar linens and putting them on the altar and preparation tables, changing out the candles, etc. My priest told me he gave me an 'official' blessing to do so. I still, though, have to use only the Deacon doors. I just judge the straightness of the altar table cloth as best I can from the sides.

[Michał Kalina]

You can't;
touch the altar or proskomedia table

In this part of the world altar servers can touch sacrifice table.

How recent that custom is?

No idea.

[Punch]

I'm just a Reader (which I too refer to as "a glorified altar boy"  ) but I pretty regularly set up the altar for feasts, ironing the altar linens and putting them on the altar and preparation tables, changing out the candles, etc. My priest told me he gave me an 'official' blessing to do so. I still, though, have to use only the Deacon doors. I just judge the straightness of the altar table cloth as best I can from the sides.

Same here.  My priest tried to get me ordained as a Sub-deacon because I was doing all this anyway.  The Bishop tonsured me a Reader and did not seem to express any objection to me continuing what I was doing with the Priest's blessing.

[username!]

I'm just a Reader (which I too refer to as "a glorified altar boy"  ) but I pretty regularly set up the altar for feasts, ironing the altar linens and putting them on the altar and preparation tables, changing out the candles, etc. My priest told me he gave me an 'official' blessing to do so. I still, though, have to use only the Deacon doors. I just judge the straightness of the altar table cloth as best I can from the sides.

your priest may have "gave you his blessing" but try it in front of the bishop.  Just sayin' not everything priests let altar helpers do is exactly what the bishop would do.  And for priests its easy to get away with because the bishop doesn't come around that often to many parishes.

[username!]

I'm just a Reader (which I too refer to as "a glorified altar boy"  ) but I pretty regularly set up the altar for feasts, ironing the altar linens and putting them on the altar and preparation tables, changing out the candles, etc. My priest told me he gave me an 'official' blessing to do so. I still, though, have to use only the Deacon doors. I just judge the straightness of the altar table cloth as best I can from the sides.

Same here.  My priest tried to get me ordained as a Sub-deacon because I was doing all this anyway.  The Bishop tonsured me a Reader and did not seem to express any objection to me continuing what I was doing with the Priest's blessing.

In my experience the bishop may have been cool that time but have him pop in and catch ya doing it. If you have spent time with a rule bending priest who makes up his own liturgics and introduces latin bits and pieces on purpose during certain feasts and makes up his own words when reading the gospel, singles out people not-so-subtly in his homilies, screams at congregants, talks down to them and then hides in the altar and on and on then you would understand my dislike for "rule bending".  I wish the bishop would stop by for a weekend.  One hasn't visited in my estimation since 1996.

[Antonis]

You can't;
touch the altar or proskomedia table

In this part of the world altar servers can touch sacrifice table.

Same here. I refill the oil in the lamps, place/remove icons from under the altar, etc.

[Alpo]

They are utterly useless.  done.  

No, they aren't. Subdeaconhood can be included in Facebook and OC.net usernames and profiles. That makes posts a lot more convincing.

[Cyrillic]

They are utterly useless.  done.  

No, they aren't. Subdeaconhood can be included in Facebook and OC.net usernames and profiles. That makes posts a lot more convincing.

 

[Michał Kalina]

You can't;
touch the altar or proskomedia table

In this part of the world altar servers can touch sacrifice table.

Same here. I refill the oil in the lamps, place/remove icons from under the altar, etc.

It looks like I meant table of preparation...

[Marc1152]

You can't;
touch the altar or proskomedia table

In this part of the world altar servers can touch sacrifice table.

Same here. I refill the oil in the lamps, place/remove icons from under the altar, etc.

It looks like I meant table of preparation...

Right..In Rocor we can fill lamps and putter around the table of preparation but can not touch the Altar Table

[Antonis]

You can't;
touch the altar or proskomedia table

In this part of the world altar servers can touch sacrifice table.

Same here. I refill the oil in the lamps, place/remove icons from under the altar, etc.

It looks like I meant table of preparation...

Ah! I'm sorry! That as well, though the only real reason I've had to touch it was to place the zeon there.

[Thomas]

I am a subdeacon and have served in both ROCOR and Antiochian parishes as I moved around the country.

A Subdeacon's primary role is to serve as an assistant to the Bishop when he visits a parish, to assist him in robing and disrobing, provide him the symbols of his office and assist him by  holding the Dikirion (Greek: δικήριον or δίκηρον) and trikirion (τρικήριον or τρίκηρον) or liturgical candlesticks, used by a bishop of the Eastern Orthodox Churches to bless the clergy and faithful. Our placement is so  the bishop need only hold out his hands and the candles are there for his use and  our hands are there to received them and return them to the altar. We also position and remove the orlet  or eagle carpet that the bishop stands on when he blesses the people or gives his sermon. Inside the altar the subdeacon is basically at the bishops beckon and call for what ever the bishop wishes to be done. After the service I usually follow the bishop and assist him during the visit by getting his food, holding down the flood of those seeking to crush him as they seek his blessing etc. In ROCOR , I was assigned a retired bishop to assist  at Liturgies that he was present in but not serving. As many  Bishops are elderly, often the subdeacon assists them up and down stairs by offering them a steady arm or a hand and assures that they do not trip or fall injuring themselves.

When the bishop is not present I serve as a senior altar service, train new altar boys, monitor  the behavior of the boys behind the altar to assure respect and humble behavior is exhibited during the liturgical services. After wards I assist in the clean up of the Holy place assuring dust and candle spills are taken care of properly. At the end of the service I lead the prayers after communion for the congregation (a pious practice peculiar to my current parish). I also am the Catechumen Director in my parish and assist the inquirers and catechumen in meeting requirements that will lead to their baptism/chrismation.

[serb1389]

They are utterly useless.  done.  

No, they aren't. Subdeaconhood can be included in Facebook and OC.net usernames and profiles. That makes posts a lot more convincing.

whatever helps you sleep at night.   

[Tags:]

OrthodoxChristianity.net > Moderated Forums > Liturgy (Moderator: arimethea) > Topic: Subdeacons