diaconicon

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In Greek churches, a room, usually on the south side of the bema or sanctuary, answering to the prothesis on the north side. It communicates by a door with the bema, and generally has an outside door besides. Sometimes it is placed in a different part of the church; or there may be two. It is used to contain vestments, sacred vessels, etc., and thus corresponds to the sacristy of a Western church. Other names for it are metatorium and sceuophylacium. The diaconicon and prothesis are found in early times comprehended under the common name of pastophoria. See cut under bema.