Acolyte

In many Christian denominations, an acolyte is anyone who performs ceremonial duties such as lighting altar candles. In others, the term is used for one who has been inducted into a particular liturgical ministry, even when not performing those duties.

Etymology

The word acolyte is derived from the Greek word ἀκόλουθος (akolouthos), meaning an attendant, via Late Latin acolythus.

Eastern Christianity

In the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches, the nearest equivalent of acolyte is the altar server. At one time there was a rank of minor clergy called the taper-bearer responsible for bearing lights during processions and liturgical entrances. However, this rank has long ago been subsumed by that of the reader and the service for the tonsure of a reader begins with the setting-aside of a taper-bearer.

The functions of an acolyte or taper-bearer are therefore carried out by readers, subdeacons, or by non-tonsured men or boys who are sometimes called "acolytes" informally. Also, the term "altar-boys" is often used to refer to young altar servers. Subdeacons wear their normal vestments consisting of the sticharion and crossed orarion; readers and servers traditionally wear the sticharion alone.

Acolyte (disambiguation)

An acolyte in its original religious definition is one who assists a higher-ranking member of a church or cult.

The word may also refer to:

In media

Acolyte or Acolytes may refer to:

Video games

Acolyte is a character class, unit, or weapon in video games such as:

Acolyte (album)

Acolyte is the debut studio album by the English alternative dance band Delphic, released by Polydor Records on 11 January 2010. It was recorded mostly in Ewan Pearson's Berlin studio. The album was released in Australia and New Zealand on 22 January via Modular and in the United States on 29 June 2010 by Dangerbird Records.

Track listing

Singles