So you want to be a deacon or think you are
By: Deacon Mark Bohush
On June 29, 2012 I was ordained by Archbishop Michael to the rank of “deacon” following a long line of deacons back to Archdeacon Stephen. The next day, I was to serve my first service at Holy Apostles Mission parish in Lansing NY. A full hierarchical Divine Liturgy as the only deacon in an unfamiliar environment of a former Catholic church with a multilevel altar. That day was to begin the next seven plus years of living out of a travel bag. You see, unlike all other deacons, I am not a parish deacon.
Right after ordination I received my letter of assignment. I was assigned to Saints Peter and Paul in Herkimer, NY a 107 mile one way trip. For most Sunday’s it was a pleasant two plus hour drive through the back roads of upstate New York. On bad weather days, it was white knuckle and as Jon Bon Jovi says, “Living on a prayer.” Spinning a Honda Civic around on a snow covered road is not as fun as one might think. God was on my side and gracious. I was to help an old family friend the best I could serving as his deacon. I was to serve at the parish until a friend could complete his diaconal studies and be ordained to succeed me. On many of those Sunday’s my wife accompanied me, making the trip lest arduous and as a bonus us making dear friends at the parish. I also took time on some of my return trips to visit Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY which is truly a beautiful place to visit.
Once my successor was ordained, I incorrectly assumed that I would be able to return home and spend more time at a parish closer to home. During the celebration dinner for the new deacon, I was asked to repeat the task at a parish in Syracuse NY. Being a good soldier for the church, you take your orders and go. This time a ninety minute drive that I quickly learned where all the potholes were and what lane to be in on snowy days. I tried my best to fit into the parish and not to upset the apple cart. The parishioners were very nice to us and sympathetic to our commute. We were also able to find very good places to eat and a top notch bakery.
After almost two years or so passed, my assignment was abruptly cut short. I was reassigned to Elmira Heights of which I was told there was a greater need of my help. This commute was only an hour drive away and the drive gave me a chance to listen to recordings of services. A very enjoyable parish that did a wonderful job of beautifying the church with iconography that covered the entire temple. If you get a chance, look at their website of the results and you will be amazed. Once the rector of the parish retired and the new rector assigned, I would be done and reassigned. Due to other diocesan needs, I could not serve the final two Sundays. Unfortunately, I was not given the opportunity to say good-bye.
Presently I am one of three deacons at a parish closer to home. It is far different than serving by myself. I do not feel the obligation to be some place every Sunday. I have taken the opportunity, since I am one of three, to do what I could not do in twenty five years of choir directing and my previous assignments as a deacon, that being to visit family. Also at every chance I get, I visit St. Tikhon’s monastery. On occasion given the privilege to serve but mostly just to be in at beautiful monastery and pray.
During these seven plus years, I have also served with His Eminence Archbishop Michael for five of those years as he did his arch pastoral visits in upstate New York. I have served in all the parishes and some multiple times. I have met many very nice people and have seen the successes and the struggles of their parishes. I would like to elaborate on these; however, I need to keep to topic.
I have carried the same bag to each parish I go to and have couple of Liturgy books marked for different parishes and my hierarchical liturgy book. In one of my secular jobs, I had a “go bag” set for quick business trips, which has now been traded for my deacon “go bag” as I continue that habit of living out of the bag. It has seen the wear and tear of seven plus years, but I hate to part with it. It isn’t fancy, just functional.
I could not do what I do without a very understanding wife and son. I lean on them both when the toils stack up. Many a Sunday my wife travels with me and we have found great friends and eateries these past seven plus years crisscrossing New York and other states. Our son has been such a blessing with all that I have gone through. It is great when he travels with us as he serves as a subdeacon and the voice in my head. When I was ordained, I stood with him and my nephew John in the center of the Church, I turned to him and hugged and kissed him. I thanked him for being there for me not just on that day but each day as he helped “train” his dad and still does. He will be a great priest someday as he is already a great man.
I am one of the fortunate few that have or have had family in the clergy. I wish I had more opportunities to serve with my Dad. Once was not enough. I also wish that I could have served more than once with my brother John. There is a wonderful picture of us on Facebook that was the one and only time we served by ourselves. I wish there could have been more for my dad, brother and I to serve but it is what it is. The Lord had other plans for my brother; he is greatly missed by me and all. I have a great family and am very proud to be a small part of it.
I serve as if I am the deacon of deacons at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. Whether the parish is jam packed or just a few souls seeking salvation. My effort is the same. I served a Saturday Liturgy that other than the clergy and a very small choir, there were just a couple of people in the pews. One of them asked me after Liturgy why I just didn’t just zip through it instead of the effort I put in. I said to her: “If someone is going to make the effort to attend the service that I am serving at, they deserve the best I can do”.
When I was a choir director, I wanted to make each service as beautiful as possible. As a deacon, I want people to hear the beauty of the services and not think about outside distractions. I serve as if my Dad is the main celebrant and my brother is to his right. I serve as if my son Andrew is on the side of me whispering instructions in my ear.
I serve as if my brother Matthew is directing the choir and my mother is in the alto section. I serve knowing my beautiful wife is following along with her prayer book full of funeral cards of all our departed loved ones. I serve as if each and every member of our family is in church praying along with us. I serve so that each and every Orthodox Christian can be inspired to find salvation and peace. I hope that all that serve at Christs’ Holy Altar do the same for those that they love and seek salvation. Always do your best, never give less.
I do not get to teach Sunday school classes and I have never preached a sermon. I do hope when parishes see the deacon with the “Adidas bag” and the Garmin attached to his windshield shows up, that I can inspire them a little bit. I want them to believe that the fifteen minute drive from their house to church isn’t that bad considering the distances I have traveled.
I say thank you each time an altar server opens a deacon door for me or hands me the censor. Most of the time they have not had a deacon serve at their parish and are not sure what to do. I said to a young boy to just do the best he can and do not be afraid to make a mistake. A gentle smile and a thank you can go a long way.
I will gently tap a child on the head with my orarion just to let them know that I know they are there and am very happy that they are. I do not want the children at a parish to be afraid of me. At one parish, the kids looked forward to that and pushed their moms and dads to get to church a little early just to get the tap.
Has the seven plus years of being a deacon been what I expected. No it has not. I am glad that I learned more of our faith in the diaconal program; however, I feel that I am on the outside looking in. My classmates and those in succeeding classes explained what their parish priests expected of them once ordained. They were to be parish deacons in their home parishes working with their parish priests. I am mostly out of sight, out of mind.
In conclusion, a wise man one told me: “Just because you have the job doesn’t make you the expert”. To all those who are or will be or want to be a deacon, be a little humble, be willing to listen to other deacons, be nice to the altar boys. Have someone who you can call for advice. Spend time on “YouTube” watching services with deacon(s). The ones from Russia are great as I cannot really find any videos from the OCA. If you intently watch you will learn little nuances of your craft. Learn your craft; put a lot of effort into it. Also, have thick skin (this does not need elaboration; you will have to bite your tongue from time to time). Make sure you know the services. It will take a year before you will be comfortable in your role. Spend a few services singing in the choir. Remember, it is about Christ and not you. Sometimes it is best to step aside rather than step on.
The Church is everywhere, just not in your home parish. Dr. Who travels in a phone booth, I travel with an Adidas bag and a Garmin.
In Christ:
Reverend Deacon Mark A. Bohush