Deacon
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(a Greek word meaning “servant”) (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8–12) — so called because the duty of a deacon is to serve at the sacraments. The diaconate is the lowest degree of the priesthood, instituted already in apostolic times. The election and ordination by the apostles of the first seven deacons — Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas — is described in detail in the book of Acts (6:1–7). Originally the office of deacon consisted in serving at table and caring for the poor and the sick; afterward deacons also served at the celebration of the sacraments and at public worship, and in general were helpers to the bishops and presbyters in their ministry.
They could even teach and preach the Gospel, as we see from the examples of Stephen and Philip (Acts 6:8–10; 8:5–8, and elsewhere). The moral qualities required of deacons and their wives are set out in detail by the Apostle Paul in his first epistle to Timothy (3:8–13).