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Youngest age for a deacon?
copticservant_fm
posted on Mar 28, 2007 - 06:07 PM
Peace and grace AntoniosHenry.
Well, I can't really help much, but I asked our priest one day if my little brother, who was 5 years old, can be ordained a deacon, and the priest told us to wait one more year. But I guess, if the church priest thinks the deacon that is to be ordained is in an appropriate age to be ordained, then he will allow it, God willing. However, i am not quite sure if there is really a book that has the age for ordaining an epsaltos.
abahoor
posted on Mar 28, 2007 - 06:11 PM
From AntoniosHenry:Is there a written or spoken rule for what the youngest age can be for a child to become espaltos? Where can I find that rule?
Thanks
there is no specific rules. but bishop consider age of the child that he can learn in. because don't forget that the ranks chanter, reader and may be subdeacons are instructional ranks for deacons to learn and be ready to be full deacons.
abahoor
posted on Mar 28, 2007 - 06:43 PM
From AntoniosHenry:I really thought there was a canon out their regarding this... so I guess it's up to the discretion of the priest & bishop. I've seen a 3 or 4 year old get ordained in our church.
sometimes it s let go of. people say it's a blessing but those don't understand the real burden they are putting on the children. also i think the best age to be ordained is around 5 or 6 yrs old. my brother was ordained when he was 5 and i was ordained when i was around 12-13. and i am older than him by a lot.
monakhos
posted on Mar 28, 2007 - 07:08 PM
http://www.suscopts.org/deacons/deacons ... ements.pdf
This is signed by HG Anba Youssef
petergergis
posted on Mar 29, 2007 - 02:12 AM
+
There is no official or cannonical rule. However the church cannon states that the chanter (Apsaltos) should have in his knowledge the basic liturgical hymns as a pre-requiste for consecration as a chanter of the Church. Many children today are able to read and speak the coptic language as much as is needed to perform in a liturgy.
In our diocese (Los Angeles). Before the consecration of any chanters His Grace the Bishop, performs a small examination to be sure that they have learned at least two of 4 hymns/responses. The options are(I believe):
Agios Otheos
Ti Shori
Amen Amen Amen (Ton thanaton) Your Death..
Estathite Metavovo o Theo
It is really important that kids are educated before they are consecrated. I was consecrated when I was three, and didn't know anything. I felt really lost most of the time while dressing, and I didn't really feel encouraged to learn anything until i was in High School.
hope this helps A.H.
in Christ our Saviour,
+peter
Noosa_1978
posted on Jul 26, 2007 - 04:59 AM
I have made a deal with one of the saints. It was that if she found me a nice man for marriage and I have a son, my son would be a Deacon. But if I have a daughter, I would name her after this saint. So I would like to know what is the youngest a boy could be a deacon. So that I can prepare if I get married and have a son.
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