(ἄρχων , a ruler), the title properly of the chief magistrates or rather executive officers of the Athenians during their democracy (see Smith's Diet. of Class. Ant. s.v.), and applied to various functionaries,
(1.) specially to the recognized head of the Syrian Jews during the Roman empire, (See ALABARCH), and
(2.) technically a title in the Greek Church of several officers, e.g. the church-keeper, keeper of the book of Gospels, etc.
(ἄρχων, -ruler), a name in the Greek Church for several officers.
1. Archon of the Antiminsia, the keeper of the antiminsium.
2. Archon of the Contakion, or keeper of the book containing the contnakia, or hymns used on various occasions in the Greek Church (Goar says, " i e. Librumn Missalem in Liturgia"), which seem to have been composed by Romanus.
3. Achon of the Phota or Illuminati (ἄρχων τῶν φώτων ) had charge of the newly baptized.