minor orders
Pre-diaconate church ranks
Minor orders are the lower ranks of clergy in the Catholic and Orthodox churches, below the major orders of bishop, priest, and deacon.
Historically these included positions like acolyte, lector, and exorcist—preparatory steps toward priesthood rather than destinations.
The Roman Catholic Church suppressed minor orders in 1972, replacing them with lay ministries.
Clergy's ceremonial assistant
- lectorOne who recites aloud
- exorcistExpels demons ritually
- porterBaggage carrier or dark brew
- subdeaconMinor clerical rank
doorkeeper · reader · cantor · altar server · sacristan · cleric · seminarian · candidate
Ritual scalp shaving
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
- candidacyPursuit of office
- vocationDedicated career path
- seminaryClergy training college
bishop · laying on of hands · rite · ceremony · canonical · priesthood · diaconate
Ceremonial religious attire
- cassockFull-length clerical garment
- surpliceWhite ecclesiastical overgarment
- albLiturgical white robe
- stoleTook without permission
liturgy · altar · sanctuary · incense · paten · chalice · missal · breviary
Catholic ecclesiastical congress addressing reformation
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- Roman CatholicChristian denomination led from Vatican
Interpreting written text
- chantingRhythmic repetitive vocalization
- assistingGiving help to
- servingMeasured food portion
- proclaimingAnnouncing something formally
carrying · guarding · blessing · preparing · distributing · vesting · processing · attending
acolyte
Clergy's ceremonial assistant
subdeacon · doorkeeper · reader · cantor · altar server · sacristan · cleric · seminarian · candidate · ordinand
tonsure
Ritual scalp shaving
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
- candidacyPursuit of office
- vocationDedicated career path
seminary · bishop · laying on of hands · rite · ceremony · canonical · priesthood · diaconate
vestments
Ceremonial religious attire
stole · liturgy · altar · sanctuary · incense · paten · chalice · missal · breviary · cruets
Council of Trent
Catholic ecclesiastical congress addressing reformation
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- Roman CatholicChristian denomination led from Vatican
reading
Interpreting written text
proclaiming · carrying · guarding · blessing · preparing · distributing · vesting · processing · attending
minor ordersholy orders
Sacrament conferring clergy status
priesthood · episcopate · priest · bishop · diaconate