diaconate

diaconate (plural diaconates)

1. The rank of a deacon.
2. Deacons considered as a group; a body or board of deacons.
3. The period of office of a deacon.
   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 7, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     “[…] This is Mr. Churchill, who, as you are aware, is good enough to come to us for his diaconate, and, as we hope, for much longer; and being a gentleman of independent means, he declines to take any payment.” Saying this Walden rubbed his hands together and smiled contentedly.

• (Roman Catholic): permanent diaconate, transitional diaconate

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