In former times the name given to him who assisted the Celebrant at the Holy Communion was Deacon, and the name Subdeacon to one who waited on the Deacon as the Deacon waited on the Celebrant, and he was permitted to read the Epistle. In time, however, these attending clergy came to be called by names characteristic of the most conspicuous parts of their duties, viz.: the Gospeler and Epistoler.