Five deacons headed by angels worship baby Christ, the Lamb, represented in the key-stone of the altar. Deacon (in Greek ‘servant, waiter’) accompanies the priest during Communion (Philip I, 1:1, Timothy III, 8:12); the lowest grade of clergy. Deacons help presbyters or bishops to hand out the sacraments and in other duties: oversight of the treasury, care of the altar, throne and letter writing. Selection and ordination of the first seven deacons Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas are described in the Acts of the Apostles (6:1-7).
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