Do Eastern Rite deacons go by the title, Father?

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Hi everyone. I just noticed a person in another thread whose user name states that they are a deacon. However, they signed the post with Fr. I am really confused right now. Could someone clear this up for me? :confused:
 
<< Do Eastern Rite deacons go by the title Father? >>

Yes. At least I know that is the case in the Byzantine tradition.

I would call it an honorific, and think of “Deacon” as a title, but that’s just my guess.

One would address him as “Father Deacon Joseph” or “Father Deacon Ben” or something to that effect.

Of Course, simply “Father Deacon” would do. It is not common to address him simply “Father”, but I think it may be acceptable. 🤷 Others can clarify.
 
In the Byzantine tradition, deacons are addressed as Father Deacon. Fully professed monks even if not ordained to holy orders are also addressed as Father.

Fr. Deacon Lance
 
In the Eparchy of Van Nuys, deacons are addressed as “Deacon XYZ.”
 
Lennox said:
In the Eparchy of Van Nuys, deacons are addressed as “Deacon XYZ.”
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The two who showed up in Anchorage with Bishop Gerald were addressed and introduced with “Father Deacon” by the priests.
 
Aramis said:
The two who showed up in Anchorage with Bishop Gerald were addressed and introduced with “Father Deacon” by the priests.
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Bp. Gerald specifically told us to address our deacon as “Deacon XYZ.” I heard him say it personally during a parish Q&A session as some wanted to us the “Father Deacon” salutation and had been dissuaded from using it by the pastor based on a direction from either Bp. William or Gerald.

Perhaps all are not aware of his instruction or maybe they chose not to follow it?
 
Lennox said:
Bp. Gerald specifically told us to address our deacon as “Deacon XYZ.” I heard him say it personally during a parish Q&A session as some wanted to us the “Father Deacon” salutation and had been dissuaded from using it by the pastor based on a direction from either Bp. William or Gerald.

Perhaps all are not aware of his instruction or maybe they chose not to follow it?
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The traditional and acceptable usage in the Byzantine Catholic tradition is ‘Father Deacon’.

If your bishop has chosen to change this, I am amazed, and ask on what basis he makes this decision. I would prefer not to believe it, but here you are giving a personal testimony.
 
Making said change violates several instructions from Rome. It does, however, conform to the USCCB Deacon Directory.
 
Deacon_Lance said:
In the Byzantine tradition, deacons are addressed as Father Deacon. Fully professed monks even if not ordained to holy orders are also addressed as Father.

Fr. Deacon Lance
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By the same token, Orthodox and traditional Byzantine-rite Catholic nuns are always addressed as Mother.

The Armenian Church has a protodeaconess, who is addressed as Mother Protodeaconess Rhipsime.

I would imagine that deaconesses in the Church of Greece would be addressed as Mother Deaconess as well.
 
As a Melkite deacon I’m addressed as “Father Ed” (mostly by my pastor), as “Deacon Ed” by most of the parishioners and as “Father Deacon Ed” in a few cases.

The title “Father” in the east is not reserved to priests but, rather, reflects the role of the individual (priest, deacon, monk) as a “spiritual father.”

Deacon Ed
 
As a Ukrainian Catholic, my particular parish has two priests and no deacons right now. However, when we did, he was addressed in Ukrainian formally as “Отець диякон”, [Otets’ Diakon] or Father Deacon. In Ukrainian however, on a day-to-day basis, whether being an altar boy and asking when to bring out the candles at liturgy or at some function I commonly found one would address the Deacon the same way one would the parish priest, that is “Otche” which is the vocative declension of “Otets’” or Father, which means in Ukrainian both (priests and deacons) practically would be addressed as “Fathers” on a normal basis one-on-one, but in formal settings (i.e. introductions at banquets, etc.) as Father Deacon ____________________.

Just my experience, anyway. 🙂
 
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