a hierodeacon (greek: ἱεροδιάκονος, "ierodiákonos"; slavonic: "ierodiakón"), sometimes translated "deacon-monk", in eastern orthodox christianity is a monk who has been ordained a deacon (or deacon who has been tonsured monk). the term literally translates as "sacred servant (of god)", in accordance with early byzantine usage of the adjective "sacred" to describe things monastic.