Ostiarii

Ostiarii (door-keepeirs), the lowest of the minor orders in the Western Church. They are spoken of by Church writers of the 3d or 4th century. The fourth Council of Carthage prescribed as the form for their admission to office the delivery of the church-key to them by the bishop, with the words: "Behave thyself as one who must render account to God of the things locked under these keys." They arranged catechumens in their places, announced the hours of service, and had charge of the church. From this word ostiarius are derived the words huissier and usher. The second master of Winchester is called hostiariuis. The Greek Church only partially adopted the institution of porters, and soon let it die out. In the West they always lived near the church. See Walcott, Sacred Archaeology, p. 418; Riddle, Christian Antiquities (see Index); Mosheim, Eccles. Hist. vol. iii; Westrop, Handb. of Archaeology, p. 72; Coleman, Anc. Christianity, p. 127, 185. SEE DOOR-KEEPERS.