A Hierodeacon, sometimes translated "deacon-monk", in Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a monk who has been ordained a deacon. The term literally translates as "sacred servant (of God)", in accordance with early Byzantine usage of the adjective "sacred" to describe things monastic. Within their own ranks, hierodeacons are assigned order of precedence according to the date of their ordination. Ranking above Hierodeacon is an Archdeacon or Protodeacon.