A Hierodeacon (Greek: Ἱεροδιάκονος, Ierodiákonos; Slavonic: Ierodiakón), sometimes translated "deacon-monk", in Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a monk who has been ordained a deacon. The term literally translates as "sacred-deacon", in accordance with early Byzantine usage of the adjective "sacred" to describe things monastic. Normally, to be eligible for ordination to the diaconate, a man must be either married or he must be tonsured a monk. If he has his bishop's permission, he may delay his marriage until after being ordained a deacon. He may also delay his ordination to the priesthood until after he marries, since after priestly ordination he would not be permitted to marry.