however, they are also to have a pastoral role and a sacramental role. They are to serve Christ’s
Church as Jesus Christ served. They have a responsibility beyond just the service of meats and
drinks. They have a role beyond service to the widows. Deacons will be leaders of the Church,
administrators, preachers, teachers, extraordinary ministers of reconciliation, judges, emissaries,
and the eyes and ears of the Bishop.
Deacons will enjoy great bonds with their bishops. In fact, many deacons will succeed
their bishops, a point which will contribute to the later conflict with presbyters. Deacons will be
the eyes and ears of the bishop, a bishop’s principal assistant and confidant. In the Apostolic
Constitutions, deacons are called to be, “the bishop's ear, and eye, and mouth, and heart,
and soul.” 14 With the authority of the bishop, deacons administer the worshipping community. It
is important to point out that the deacons are not to usurp the authority of the bishop. Indeed, all
authority of the deacon is derived from his relationship with the bishop. They are to administer
their duties as the bishop would, being of one mind with the bishop. All their ministries,
administrative and of the altar come from their relationship with the bishop. In the Didiscalia the
relationship of the deacon and his bishop is explained:
Let the bishops and the deacons, then, be of one mind; and do you shepherd the people
diligently with one accord. For you ought both to be one body, father and son; for you are
in the likeness of the Lordship. And let the deacon make known all things to the bishop,
even as Christ to His Father. But what things he can, let the deacon order, and all the rest
let the bishop judge. Yet let the deacon be the hearing of the bishop, and his mouth and
his heart and his soul; for when you are both of one mind, through your agreement there
will be peace also in the Church. 15
14
Apostolic constitution. Translated by James Donaldson. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 7. Edited by Alexander
Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing
Co., 1886.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. Accessed June 22, 2018
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/07152.htm, II/6.
15
Peter Kirby, Early Christian Writings. 2018. “Didiscalia Apostolorum.” Accessed June 22,2018
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didascalia.html, XI.
11