or ACOLUTHIISTS (ἀκολούθους, from α, copulative, and κεῖσθαι, a way), in Antiquity, was an appellation given to those persons who were steady and immovable in their resolutions; and hence the Stoics, because they would not forsake their principles nor alter their resolutions, acquired the title of acoluthi.

Acolytes, among the ancient Christians, were a peculiar order of the inferior clergy in the Latin church, for they were unknown to the Greeks for above 400 years. They were next to the subdeacon; and we learn from the fourth council of Carthage, that the archdeacon, at their ordination, put into their hands a candlestick with a taper, giving them thereby to understand that they were appointed to light the candles of the church; as also an empty pitcher, to imply that they were to furnish wine for the eucharist. The name and office still exist in the Romish church.