protodeacon

[proh-toh-dee-kuhn]

noun

1. a chief deacon in the Greek Church.

Word History and Origins

Origin of protodeacon¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; proto- + deacon

Example Sentences

"Then, the protodeacon stepped out and announced, 'Habemus Papam.' I only heard 'Giorgio Mario.' I dropped to my knees in front of the television and started to cry."

Read more on BBC

The singers responded with admirable concentration to Fox’s direction, giving maximum differentiation of dynamics — very loud, very soft — to this primarily homophonic music, while Leonid Roschko, protodeacon of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in New Jersey, sang the prayers that interleaved some of the movements in a stentorian bass.

Read more on Washington Post

As ‘protodeacon’ of the College of Cardinals, Tauran emerged on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on the rainy night of March 13, 2013, to announce Francis’ election.

Read more on Seattle Times

Mill-itch!' that his neighbour civilly and sympathetically advised him, 'to take care of his voice, it would be the making of a protodeacon.'

Read more on Project Gutenberg