Protodeacon derives from theGreekproto- meaning 'first' anddiakonos, which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "assistant", "servant", or "waiting-man". The word inEnglish may refer to any of various clergy, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.
Protodeacon is an honorific rank given to certain marrieddeacons inEastern Christian churches. In theRussian Orthodox Church it is an honorary title given to married deacons, as a mark of which, the clergyman is entitled to wear aburgundy-coloredskufia. The equivalent rank forhierodeacons—i.e.,monastic deacons—isarchdeacon. The senior deacon of acathedral orprincipal church may be awarded the title of protodeacon. In the Greek usage, the chief deacon who is attached to the person of a bishop is called an archdeacon. In the Slavic usage a protodeacon or archdeacon wears a distinctiveorarion (deacon's stole).[citation needed]
The title of protodeacon is an award, not a distinctiveorder of ministry; so while a man may beordained a deacon, he is said to be 'elevated' to the rank of protodeacon. This elevation may be awarded only by the deacon's ownruling bishop. Therite of elevation is identical for both a protodeacon and an archdeacon, and is normally done during theLittle Entrance of theDivine Liturgy.[citation needed]
A protodeacon hasprecedence when serving with other deacons, regardless of the date of his own ordination to the diaconate. If several protodeacons serve at the same time, their order of precedence is determined by the date of their elevation.[citation needed]
In theArchieratikon (Slavonic:Chinovnik), theliturgical book containing the services as celebrated by abishop, the term Protodeacon is used to refer to the senior-ranking deacon who is serving, regardless of whether or not he has actually had that rank bestowed upon him.[citation needed]
In theRoman rite, the seniorCardinal Deacon is the Cardinal Protodeacon of the Holy Roman Church. He has the privilege of announcing the newpope's election and name (once he has been ordained to the episcopate)[1] in theHabemus Papam announcement given from the central balcony atSt. Peter's Basilica inVatican City State. In the past, during papal coronations, the Protodeacon also had the honor of bestowing the pallium on the new pope and crowning him with thepapal tiara. However, in 1978 Pope John Paul I chose not to be crowned and opted for a simpler papal inauguration ceremony, and his successors have followed that example. As a result, the Cardinal Protodeacon's privilege of crowning a new pope is dormant. However, the Protodeacon still has the privilege of bestowing the pallium on a new pope at his papal inauguration. “Acting in the place of theRoman Pontiff, he also confers the pallium uponmetropolitan bishops or gives the pallium to their proxies.”[2] The current Cardinal Protodeacon isDominique Mamberti.[3]
