Hieromonk

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In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, a hieromonk, literally a 'sacred monk', is a monk who is also a priest.

A hieromonk can be either a monk who has been ordained priest or a priest who has received monastic tonsure.

Similarly, a hierodeacon is a monk who is also a deacon.

In the Church hierarchy, a hieromonk is of higher dignity than a hierodeacon, just as a secular priest is of higher dignity than a deacon.

The proper form of address is "the Reverend Hieromonk" and "the Reverend Hierodeacon", respectively.

[edit] See also

• Christian monasticism

[edit] Reference

• This article is based on material from the public domain 1906 Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.