Subdeacon

Eccl. Forms: α. 4 sude(a)kne, 4–5 sodekene, 5 -en, -on, -un, -yn. β. 4–6 subdekin, -yn, -decon, (also 8) -diacon, etc. (see DEACON sb.), 5– subdeacon. (See also southdeacon s.v. SOUTH-².) [a. AF., OF. soudiakene, subdiacne, f. sou(s)-, sub- (see SUB- 6) + diacne DEACON sb., after eccl. L. subdiāconus, which was modelled on eccl. Gr. ὑποδιᾱκονος.]

  1.  The name of an order of ministers in the Christian church next below that of deacon.

  The duty of subdeacons is to assist in the celebration of the Eucharist by preparing the sacred vessels and (in the Western Church) by reading the epistle. In the East the subdiaconate ranks as one of the minor, in the West as one of the major orders; it does not exist in the Church of England.

  α.  c. 1315.  Shoreham, I. 1779. Sudeakne mey be ywedded nauȝt.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 39. Þe clerkis of þi jurisdiccoun, þat are wiþ in þe ordre of sodeken, or a boue.

c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 471. Iames Vercellence, the popis sodekon.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 371/1. A Sudekyn, subdiaconus.

  β.  1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1051. Ȝyf þou … art a clerk, & hast þe los Of subdekene, or dekene by name.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 359. Oon Arator, a subdecon of Rome.

1460.  Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 74. He that schuld be mad a bischop schuld first be a benet,… and than a colet; and than subdiacone, diacone, and prest.

1555.  W. Watreman, Fardle Facions, II. xii. 281. The Subdeacon mighte take the offring, and handle the Chalice, and the Patine.

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. iv. 22 b. As for Subdeacons, it is likely that at the beginnyng they were ioyned to the Deacons, that they should vse their seruice about the poore.

1615.  Wadsworth, in Bedell, Lett., 12. The Councels require the ordines minores of Subdeacon and the rest, to goe before Priesthood.

1635.  Pagitt, Christianogr., I. iii. (1636), 106. The Priests, Deacons, and Subdeacons of the Easterne Church.

1737.  Challoner, Cath. Chr. Instr. (1753), 154. From the minor Orders they are promoted to the Order of Sub-deacon, which is the first of those that are called Holy.

1859.  Newman, Serm. Var. Occas. (1881), 254. At the age of twenty-four,… he was ordained sub-deacon.

1877.  J. D. Chambers, Div. Worship, 326. It was always the proper office of the Subdeacon to read the Epistle.

  † b.  Applied to an order below the levites, the ‘Nethinim’ of Ezra ii. 70. Obs.

1382.  Wyclif, 1 Esdras ii. 70. The prestus and the Leuitus of the puple … and sodeknys [Vulg. Nathinæi].

1546.  Langley, trans. Pol. Verg. de Invent., IV. iii. 72. The ministers, whiche dyd make redye the sacrifice,… at the commaundement of the Leuites, these we may cal subdeacons.

  2.  The cleric (orig. one in subdeacon’s orders) or lay clerk who acts as assistant next below the deacon at a solemn celebration of the Eucharist; the ‘epistoler.’

1440.  Engl. Ch. Furnit. (1866), 181. One whole vestment for Priest Deacon and Subdeacon.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 133/3. A preest a deken & a subdeken all reuested goyng to thaulter as for to saye masse.

1520.  Market Harborough Rec. (1890), 215. To the parych clerke beynge subdeken iij^d.

c. 1618.  Moryson, Itin., IV. (1903), 439. When the Pope … sings Masse himselfe, with one Cardinall seruing him as Deacon, and another as subdeacon.

1701.  in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., VII. 101. And his Dæcon, Subdiacon & Acolythe were his 3 sons, brothers to y^e Nonne.

1851.  Pugin, Chancel Screens, 26. The Epistle and Gospel were sung by the deacon and sub-deacon, from marble desks enriched with carvings.

1865.  Directorium Anglicanum (ed. 2), 2, note. The Epistoler or Subdeacon, if the ancient Sarum and modern Roman Rule be followed, should wear no stole at all.

  † b.  The vestment (viz. a tunicle) worn by the subdeacon at the Eucharist. Obs.

1521.  in Strype, Stow’s Surv. (1754), I. 514/1. I wold that a Subdeacon of whyte Damask, be made.

1553.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904), 52. A preist & a subdeaken of blew bodkin.

1560.  in Trans. Essex Archæol. Soc. (1863), II. 215. j vestement … of red velvet, w^th a decon & subdecon.

  Hence Subdeaconate, -deaconhood, † -deaconry, -deaconship = SUBDIACONATE.

1554.  T. Martin, Marr. Priests, O ij (T.). Ye come to be promoted here to the holye order of subdeaconrie.

1587.  T. Norton’s trans. Calvin’s Inst., IV. xix. 494 b, marg. The order of Sub-deaconrie and the trifling vse thereof.

1615.  Wadsworth, in Bedell, Lett., 13. Subdeaconship [is giuen] by the deliuerie of the Patena alone, and of the Chalice emptie.

1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Sub, ’Tis disputed among the Romanists, whether the Sub-deaconhood be a Sacrament or not.

1853.  Rock, Ch. Fathers, III. II. 50. The next step took the acolyte to the sub-deaconship.

1878.  Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xix. 370. For the sub-deaconate and higher grades a knowledge of the New Testament … was requisite.