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Deacon vs. Priest — What's the Difference?

By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 16, 2024
A deacon is a member of the clerical order just below that of a priest, focused on service to the church and community, while a priest is ordained to perform sacramental duties such as celebrating Mass and administering sacraments.
Deacon vs. Priest — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Deacon and Priest

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Key Differences

Deacons serve as a bridge between the laity and the clergy, assisting in liturgical services and focusing on charitable activities. Priests, however, hold a higher sacramental role, presiding over Eucharistic services and conferring other sacraments like reconciliation and anointing of the sick.
Deacons can be transitional (on the path to becoming a priest) or permanent, and may be married before ordination. Priests, depending on their denomination, typically take vows of celibacy and commit to a life of service to the Church and its members.
While deacons assist during liturgical services by reading the Gospel and sometimes giving homilies, priests are central to the liturgy, consecrating the Eucharist and leading the congregation in prayer.
In pastoral care, deacons often focus on service-oriented tasks such as ministering to the poor and sick, whereas priests handle spiritual needs such as providing guidance, hearing confessions, and pastoral counseling.
Both roles are crucial within the structure of the Church, with deacons emphasizing service and outreach, and priests focusing on spiritual leadership and sacramental responsibilities.
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Comparison Chart

Role in Church

Service to the church and community
Administration of sacraments, spiritual leadership

Sacramental Authority

Limited to baptisms and marriages (in some denominations)
Full, including Eucharist, reconciliation, and anointing of the sick

Marriage

May be married before ordination
Typically vows of celibacy (in most denominations)

Liturgical Function

Assists in Mass, reads Gospel, may deliver homilies
Presides over Mass, consecrates Eucharist

Focus

Charitable work, community service
Pastoral care, spiritual guidance

Compare with Definitions

Deacon

Acts as a bridge between the clergy and the laity.
The deacon frequently visited parish members at home to understand their needs better.

Priest

Typically required to take vows of celibacy in many denominations.
Upon ordination, he took a vow of celibacy as required by his faith.

Deacon

An ordained minister ranked below a priest, involved in service and outreach.
The deacon organized a food drive for the community.

Priest

Provides spiritual guidance and pastoral care to the congregation.
The priest offered counseling and spiritual guidance to his parishioners.

Deacon

May perform baptisms and witness marriages, depending on denomination rules.
As a deacon, he was authorized to baptize the newborns in the parish.

Priest

Administers sacraments including the Eucharist, reconciliation, and anointing of the sick.
As part of his duties, the priest heard confessions every Saturday.

Deacon

Can be either transitional or permanent.
He chose to remain a permanent deacon to continue his focus on community service.

Priest

Central figure in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church.
The priest is responsible for leading the celebration of the Mass and other sacraments.

Deacon

Often involved in liturgical duties but not authorized to consecrate the Eucharist.
During the service, the deacon read the Gospel and assisted at the altar.

Priest

An ordained minister with full sacramental authority in the Church.
The priest officiated at the Mass and consecrated the Eucharist.

Deacon

A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Scandinavian Lutheran Churches and the Anglican Church, including the Free Church of England, view the diaconate as part of the clerical state.

Priest

A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities.

Deacon

A cleric ranking just below a priest in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches.

Priest

An ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church, authorized to perform certain rites and administer certain sacraments
The priest celebrated mass at a small altar off the north transept

Deacon

A lay assistant to a Protestant minister.

Priest

A mallet used to kill fish caught when angling.

Deacon

Used as a title prefixed to the surname of such a person
Deacon Brown.

Priest

Ordain to the priesthood
He was made deacon in 1990 and priested in 1994

Deacon

(Church history) A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).

Priest

In many Christian churches, a member of the second grade of clergy ranking below a bishop but above a deacon and having authority to administer the sacraments.

Deacon

(Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism) A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.

Priest

A person having the authority to perform and administer religious rites.

Deacon

(Protestantism) Free Churches: A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.

Priest

To ordain or admit to the priesthood.

Deacon

(Protestantism) Anglicanism: An ordained clergyman usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon.

Priest

A religious clergyman (clergywoman, clergyperson) who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple
The priest at the Catholic church heard his confession.
The Shinto priest burnt incense for his ancestors.
The Israelite priests were descended from Moses' brother Aaron.

Deacon

(Protestantism) Methodism: A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate.

Priest

A blunt tool, used for quickly stunning and killing fish

Deacon

(freemasonry) A junior lodge officer.

Priest

(Mormonism) the highest office in the Aaronic priesthood

Deacon

(Mormonism) The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts.

Priest

(transitive) To ordain as a priest.

Deacon

A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below).

Priest

A presbyter elder; a minister

Deacon

(Scotland) The chairman of an incorporated company.

Priest

One who officiates at the altar, or performs the rites of sacrifice; one who acts as a mediator between men and the divinity or the gods in any form of religion; as, Buddhist priests.
Then the priest of Jupiter . . . brought oxen and garlands . . . and would have done sacrifice with the people.
Every priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Deacon

For a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir.

Priest

To ordain as priest.

Deacon

To kill a calf shortly after birth.

Priest

A clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders

Deacon

To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath.

Priest

A spiritual leader in a non-Christian religion

Deacon

An officer in Christian churches appointed to perform certain subordinate duties varying in different communions. In the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, a person admitted to the lowest order in the ministry, subordinate to the bishops and priests. In Presbyterian churches, he is subordinate to the minister and elders, and has charge of certain duties connected with the communion service and the care of the poor. In Congregational churches, he is subordinate to the pastor, and has duties as in the Presbyterian church.

Deacon

The chairman of an incorporated company.

Deacon

To read aloud each line of (a psalm or hymn) before singing it, - usually with off.

Deacon

A Protestant layman who assists the minister

Deacon

A cleric ranking just below a priest in Christian churches; one of the Holy Orders

Common Curiosities

Can deacons become priests?

Yes, transitional deacons are typically seminary students who serve as deacons before being ordained as priests.

What roles can a permanent deacon perform that a priest cannot?

While there are no specific roles a deacon can perform that a priest cannot, deacons often focus more intensively on community service and outreach, roles that are not the primary focus of priests.

How does one become a deacon?

The process involves a period of formation, which includes theological education and pastoral training, after which the candidate is ordained by a bishop.

What is the main difference between a deacon and a priest?

The main difference is in their roles and sacramental authority: deacons focus on service and have limited sacramental powers, while priests can administer all sacraments and lead in spiritual matters.

Why are priests typically required to take vows of celibacy?

The vow of celibacy is seen as a commitment to devote one’s life fully to service of the Church and its members, avoiding the familial obligations that might distract from this service.

What training is required for priests?

Training typically involves years of seminary education, including theological study and practical ministry experience.

What is a deacon's role in a wedding?

In many denominations, deacons can officiate at weddings, handling the ceremonial aspects and witnessing the marriage for the Church.

Are there female deacons or priests?

The allowance of female deacons and priests varies by denomination. Some branches of Christianity, like Anglicanism and some Protestant denominations, ordain women, while others like the Roman Catholic Church do not.

Can a priest ever be married?

In certain Christian denominations, such as some branches of Orthodoxy and Anglicanism, priests can be married, but typically must be married before ordination.

How do deacons and priests work together?

They collaborate closely in pastoral and liturgical functions, with the priest focusing on sacramental duties and spiritual leadership and the deacon supporting through service-oriented tasks and assistance in liturgical roles.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.

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