A priest can celebrate the Eucharist and hear confessions. A deacon can’t.
That’s the short answer, but it helps to understand what these two orders of ordained ministry actually mean in the life of the Church. Both are clergy. Both serve at the altar during the Divine Liturgy. But they do different things, and those differences matter.
What a Deacon Does
The word “deacon” comes from the Greek diakonos, which means servant. That tells you everything about the role. When a man is ordained to the diaconate, he’s ordained to service. He assists the priest during the Liturgy, calling the people to prayer with the litanies (those repeated petitions where we respond “Lord, have mercy”). He reads the Gospel. He censes the church. He distributes Holy Communion after the priest has consecrated it.
Outside the Liturgy, deacons can take Communion to people who are sick or homebound. They can teach with the priest’s blessing. In the early Church, deacons cared for widows and orphans, and that spirit of service to those in need remains part of their calling.
But here’s what a deacon can’t do: he can’t celebrate the Eucharist. He can’t hear confessions. He can’t perform baptisms or marriages or anoint the sick. He doesn’t stand at the altar and pray the prayers of consecration. He assists the one who does.
What a Priest Does
A priest is ordained to the priesthood, not just to service. That’s a different thing. When a man becomes a priest, he receives the authority to celebrate the sacraments. He stands at the altar and prays the Eucharistic prayers, calling down the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into Christ’s Body and Blood. He hears confessions and pronounces absolution. He baptizes. He performs marriages. He anoints the sick with holy oil.
The priest is a pastor, a shepherd of the flock. He teaches and preaches. He’s the spiritual father of his parish. At St. Michael’s, when you call and say “I need to talk to a priest,” you’re not just asking for advice. You’re asking for someone who can hear your confession, give you counsel, and pronounce God’s forgiveness. A deacon, as helpful as he might be, can’t do that.
Why Two Orders?
This goes back to the New Testament. The Church has always had different levels of ordained ministry. You see bishops, presbyters (that’s the Greek word for priests), and deacons in the letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch, who wrote in the early second century. These aren’t arbitrary categories we invented. They reflect how the apostles organized the Church from the beginning.
The deacon stands between the altar and the people. During the Liturgy, you’ll see him on the solea (that raised area in front of the icon screen), facing the congregation, leading the prayers. He’s the voice calling us to worship. The priest stands at the altar, often hidden behind the iconostasis, praying the mystical prayers that consecrate the Gifts. Different roles, both necessary.
In the Antiochian Archdiocese, a man must be ordained a deacon before he can become a priest. Some men serve as deacons for years. Others are ordained to the diaconate and then to the priesthood within a short time. But you can’t skip the diaconate. It’s not just a stepping stone. It’s a real order of ministry with its own dignity and purpose.
What This Means for You
If you’re visiting St. Michael’s and you see two men serving at the altar, now you’ll know the difference. The one wearing the phelonion (that’s the large, cape-like vestment) is the priest. The one wearing the orarion (the long, decorated stole) is the deacon. Listen during the Liturgy and you’ll hear the deacon’s voice more than the priest’s. He’s doing most of the talking. But the priest is doing something else, something quieter but essential: he’s offering the sacrifice, consecrating the Gifts, making present the Body and Blood of Christ.
Both roles matter. The Church needs deacons who serve and priests who shepherd. And if you’re wondering whether you should address that man in the black cassock as “Father” or “Deacon,” here’s the rule: deacons are properly called “Father Deacon” or just “Deacon.” Priests are “Father.” When in doubt, just ask. We don’t stand on ceremony here in Southeast Texas, but we do honor the offices Christ gave His Church.
