Seven Deacons

The Seven, often known as the Seven Deacons, were leaders elected by the

The works of Stephen and Philip are the only two recorded and their works concern preaching, catechising and baptising. Philip is referred to as "the evangelist" in Acts 21:8. Their appointment is described in chapter 6 of the

Although the Seven are not called 'deacons' in the New Testament, their role is described as 'diaconal' (διακονεῖν τραπέζαις in Greek), and they are therefore often regarded as the forerunners of the Christian order of deacons.^{[citation needed]}

The Seven Deacons were:

• Stephen the Protomartyr
• Philip the Evangelist
• Prochorus
• Nicanor
• Timon
• Parmenas
• Nicholas

According to the narrative in Acts, they were identified and selected by the community of believers on the basis of their reputation and wisdom, being 'full of the Holy Spirit', and their appointment was confirmed by the Apostles.

Details

Only Stephen and Philip are discussed in much detail in Acts; tradition provides nothing further about Nicanor or Parmenas. Stephen became the first

Tradition calls Prochorus the nephew of Stephen and a companion of John the Evangelist, who consecrated him bishop of Nicomedia in Bithynia (modern-day Turkey). He was traditionally ascribed the authorship of the apocryphal Acts of John, and was said to have ended his life as a martyr in Antioch in the 1st century.^[1]

According to

Timon was said to have been a Hellenized Jew who became a bishop in Greece or in Bosra, Syria; in the latter account, his preaching brought the ire of the local governor, who martyred him with fire.

After preaching for years in Asia Minor, where