Diaconicon (Διακονικόν), Diaconico

DIACONICON (Διακονικόν), DIACONICON. - ART. - A small room, often with an apse, found in basilical churches beside the apse, on the side opposite the prothesis.

The use seems to come from the East, particularly from Syria, where many elements of the Christian basilicas were developed, and where it is already found in pagan buildings; it is frequent in the churches of Ravenna, rarer in the Roman region, where it is found only in S. Maria Antiqua, in S. Sinforosa, and in the basilica of Pammachius at Porto. It also served as a treasury, for keeping the sacred vessels and relics.

Mario Zocca

LITURGY

It is taken in various senses. It means: 1st the liturgical book of the Byzantine rite which contains the litanies or supplications and the prayers recited by the deacon in the various ecclesiastical offices (L. Allatius, De libris et rebus ecclesiasticis Graecorum, diss. I, Paris 1646, p. 97); 2nd the supplications themselves which, besides the names ἐκτενὴς εἰρηνικά, are also called διακονικά. E.g.: τὰ διακονικὰ τῶν φωτιζομένων (supplications for the illuminated during Lent [*Eucologio, Rome 1873, p. 121]); 3rd the place where the deacons stand. This place is the one before the main door of the sanctuary where the deacon recites the supplications in the name of the people: Ἄρχεται ὁ διάκονος ἐν τῷ διακονικῷ, ἐν εἰρήνῃ etc. (J. Morinus, De sacris Ordinationibus, Paris 1655, p. 104); but above all the place where the deacons once prepared the bread and wine destined for the Sacrifice. It, situated to the right of the sanctuary, was later destined for keeping the vestments and sacred vessels, the liturgical books, etc. It is like the sacristy of the Easterners (J. Goar, Εὐχολόγιον, sive Rituale Graecorum*, Venice 1730, p. 13). Placido de Meester