Man and Church
Minor Orders: What Are They and What Do They Do?
A brief look at the history and liturgical roles of readers and subdeacons.
Those who have attended an Orthodox church may have seen several people in cassocks who are not the priest and deacon. Who are they? Are they clergy? How should you address them? Let’s break it down.
To begin with, there are five orders of clergy in the Church: three major orders and two minor orders. Most people are familiar with the major orders: bishop, priest, and deacon. These are offices already attested to throughout the New Testament, especially in the Book of Acts. Men are elevated to these orders through an action called cheirotonia (“stretching forth the hand,” Acts 14:23).
