In Oriente il suddiaconato è considerato come un piccolo ordine, e comprende tre degli altri ordini minori (portiere, esorcista, accolito). In the East the subdiaconate is regarded as a minor order, and it includes three of the other minor orders (porter

In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine 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

(Greek akolouthos; Latin sequens, comes, a follower, an attendant).. An acolyte is a cleric promoted to the fourth and highest minor order in the Latin Church, ranking next to a subdeacon.