''Diakonissa'' is a Greek title of honor that is used to refer to a
deacon's wife. It is derived from ''diakonos''—the Greek word for ''deacon'' (literally, "server"). There does not currently seem to be any standard English equivalent, so most English-speaking Orthodox Christians will use the title most common in the old country churches from which their local family or parish finds its origin.
''Diakonissa'' was also the term used in the ancient Church for the order of
deaconess
The ministry of a deaconess is, in modern times, a usually non-ordained ministry for women in some Protestant, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox churches to provide pastoral care, especially for other women, and which may carry a limited ...
, a class of ordained women who saw to the care of women in the community.
Other languages
In
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
, a deacon's wife is called ''Shamassy'' (derived from ''Shamas'', Arabic for "deacon").
Romanian
Romanian may refer to:
*anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Romania
**Romanians, an ethnic group
**Romanian language, a Romance language
*** Romanian dialects, variants of the Romanian language
** Romanian cuisine, tradition ...
uses a derivative from the Greek term, ''Diaconiţa'', as does
Serbian, ''Đakonica''/''Ђаконица'' (pronounced ''jack-on-eet'-sa''). Other Slavic traditions generally use the same word for a deacon's wife that is used for a
priest's wife: ''Matushka'' (Russian), ''Panimatushka'' (Ukrainian), etc.
See also
* ''
Episcopa Theodora
''Episcopa Theodora'' is the Greek inscription on a 9th-century Christian mosaic in the Chapel of Bishop Zeno of Verona located within the Church of Saint Praxedis the Martyress in Rome.
The honorific title refers to the Lady Theodora, the ...
''
* ''
Presbytera
''Presbytera'' ( el, πρεσβυτέρα, pronounced ''presvytéra'') is a Greek title of honor that is used to refer to a priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a m ...
''
References
*{{OrthodoxWiki, name=Diakonessa, oldid=71335
External links
Clergy Etiquette
Eastern Christian ecclesiastical offices