ARCHDEACON, iirell'(Wkcin (Gk.(ipx(-,archi-, chief SaiKovos, dialconos, servant, minister of the Church). An ecclesiastical (14,mitary whose jurisdiction is immediately subordinate to that of the bishop. The archdeacon originally was simply the chief of the deacons, who were the attendants and assistants of the bishop in Church affairs. His duties consisted in attend ing the bishop at the altar and at ordina tions, assisting him in managing the revenues of the Church and directing the deacons in their duties. From being thus more assistants, archdeacons in the Fifth Century began to share the bishop's powers, and step by step attained to the authority they now enjoy, which from the Ninth Century became in many respects dis tinct from that of the bishop. Several synods protested against the innovation, but it was con tinued in the Eleventh and Twelfth centuries, when the archdeacons were recognized as the most influential of prelates. In the Thirteenth Century, their powers were limited by the estab lishment of episcopal courts. Their dignity and
influence is now very much reduced in the Roman Catholic Church, and many of their former functions are now exercised by vicar generals.
There are now eighty-three archdeaconries in the Established Church of England. No person can be appointed to this office who has not been six years a priest. His duties include visitation of the parishes, holding synods, ordering repairs of churches, and in other was being, as the canon law calls him„ 'the bishop's eye.' He is addressed as 'Venerable.' In the American Prot estant. Episcopal Church the archdeacon exercises analogous functions, but the office is found in only thirty-nine out of the seventy-six dioceses, and the number in the dioceses where it has been introduced varies from one to six. The office is found in all branches of the Chmi•ch of Eng land and also in the Lutheran Church.