10 Lifehacks for Deacons and Beyond

10 Lifehacks for Deacons and Beyond 10Dec

A warm welcome to all fathers and brothers in Christ, with a special invitation to deacons — both present and future.

Today, I share some diaconal life-hacks accumulated over 15 years in the ministry. While some are personal preferences, others have been learned from experienced colleagues. Additionally, it's an excellent opportunity for readers to contribute their techniques and experiences in the comments for the benefit of the entire OCC audience. Our goal is to share experiences and foster connections among Orthodox clergy.

10 Lifehacks for Deacons and Beyond

The service book, along with the deacon's voice, is the main instrument. The Instructional Message strongly recommends its use, as even experienced clergy can make mistakes or experience unnecessary pauses. Novice deacons, in particular, benefit from quick access to the service book. Some tips and tricks focus on this aspect.

1. Vest Convenience

Wearing a vest proves helpful for deacons, especially in terms of carrying a service book. This vestment's advantages: convenient pockets and the ability to adjust to different temperatures by adding layers under the sticharion.

deacon vest

2. Pocket Accessibility

To enhance the use of the undercassock pocket, consider unbuttoning or removing the top buttons and loops at hip level on the sticharion's sides. This small adjustment facilitates quick access to the service book without compromising appearance.

undercassock pocket

3. Handy Pin

Deacons often carry a large pin to secure the orarion crosswise, preventing it from coming undone during Communion. This pin can also serve as a makeshift button in case one comes off and there's no time for a repair.

Handy Pin

4. Cleric's Memory Pencil

Keep a short lead pencil in your pocket—a handy tool for note-taking during services. It aids in recording details not found in the service book, adapting to varying practices, and adding newly glorified saints to the calendar.

Cleric's Memory Pencil

5. Bookmark Efficiency

For young colleagues, employing multiple bookmarks at the top and bottom of pages, along with highlighting with a marker, helps quickly locate specific petitions or exclamations in the service book.

multiple bookmarks

6. Preserving Your Service Book

After years of use, the areas where fingers touch the pages may become yellowed and text may rub out. Instead of replacing the service book, consider laminating these parts of the pages with transparent tape at the first signs of wear.

Preserving Service Book

7. Securing the Orarion During Communion

Let us return, as promised, to the orarion. If you have achieved the double orarion, or if it is the only one used in your jurisdiction, the question often arises of how to secure it during the communion of the laity.

Some tie the loose ends at the hip, but the width of the orarion is not conducive to this. Some sew a button or a hook and loop on the ends, but not everyone likes anything excessive under their fingers. It is also common to hang the front end of the orarion over the stitched corner on the right hip, and leave the rear end hanging freely. However, during Communion, when you lean over, this end hangs to the side, touching the floor, and someone can step on it.

The way out is to unbutton (or cut off) the top button of the sticharion under the sewn corner of the orarion, and tuck the back end of the orarion into the gap between the flaps of the sticharion. It is quite convenient to tuck it in and return it to its original position.

Securing the Orarion During Communion

8. Handling the Weight of the Double Orarion

Besides being twice as long, the double orarion is also much wider than the single orarion, which also makes it much heavier and bulkier. If you have a physique of anything less than a giant, a double orarion can be difficult. If its usual width (here it is 16cm) is clearly disproportionate to your body shape - ask for a smaller width when ordering.

A heavy orarion gravitates towards independent life - when moving, it slips and pulls the point where it is attached, from the neck towards the shoulder. The further it is from the neck, the more it protrudes beyond the edge of the shoulder, where it feels as something foreign, which often needs to be adjusted. If your sticharion has a large collar, it will show itself - the excess will be pulled to the left. What can be done?

Double Orarion

The collar of the sticharion should fit your size, and be closer to the contour of the collar of your undercassock. The button on the shoulder can be sewn closer to the neck (on the galloon). The loops on the orarion should be of minimum length - so that only the button can fit through - or even shorter (according to the scheme on the photo). And hopefully, since people often gain weight with age, perhaps, in time, everything will fall into place.

Double Orarion

The collar of the sticharion should fit your size, and be closer to the contour of the collar of your undercassock. The button on the shoulder can be sewn closer to the neck (on the galloon). The loops on the orarion should be of minimum length - so that only the button can fit through - or even shorter (according to the scheme on the photo). And hopefully, since people often gain weight with age, perhaps, in time, everything will fall into place.

Personally, my impression is that the double orarion is more prone to unbuckling than the single orarion. After a couple of such cases, I made it a rule to twist the button loop. It is more reliable that way.

9. Smoke Diversion Technique

During a funeral litany, the double orarion can be used to divert incense smoke if there's an excess or if you are sensitive to specific incense. By moving the wide band of the orarion from the wrist onto the hand, you can redirect some of the smoke to the side.

incense smoke

10. Deacon's Incense Jar

A deacon's incense jar should have a moderately wide neck and a secure lid easily opened and closed with one hand. Keep a separate stockpile of small incense pieces to address situations when the coal is weak or the incense burns out, ensuring a continuous "working" condition of the censer.

Deacon's Incense Jar

In conclusion, warm up your ligaments before the service, and may your voice be pure, strong, reverent, and profound — proclaiming glory to our Lord for the benefit of Mother Church and the joy of the praying congregation.

We hope you find these life-hacks useful, and we encourage you to share your own valuable experiences with our community.