diff --git a/internal/cmd/deacon.go b/internal/cmd/deacon.go
index 9910d2ea..6731da19 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/deacon.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/deacon.go
@@ -205,6 +205,35 @@ Examples:
 	RunE: runDeaconStaleHooks,
 }
 
+var deaconPauseCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "pause",
+	Short: "Pause the Deacon to prevent patrol actions",
+	Long: `Pause the Deacon to prevent it from performing any patrol actions.
+
+When paused, the Deacon:
+- Will not create patrol molecules
+- Will not run health checks
+- Will not take any autonomous actions
+- Will display a PAUSED message on startup
+
+The pause state persists across session restarts. Use 'gt deacon resume'
+to allow the Deacon to work again.
+
+Examples:
+  gt deacon pause                           # Pause with no reason
+  gt deacon pause --reason="testing"        # Pause with a reason`,
+	RunE: runDeaconPause,
+}
+
+var deaconResumeCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "resume",
+	Short: "Resume the Deacon to allow patrol actions",
+	Long: `Resume the Deacon so it can perform patrol actions again.
+
+This removes the pause file and allows the Deacon to work normally.`,
+	RunE: runDeaconResume,
+}
+
 var (
 	triggerTimeout time.Duration
 
@@ -220,6 +249,9 @@ var (
 	// Stale hooks flags
 	staleHooksMaxAge time.Duration
 	staleHooksDryRun bool
+
+	// Pause flags
+	pauseReason string
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -234,6 +266,8 @@ func init() {
 	deaconCmd.AddCommand(deaconForceKillCmd)
 	deaconCmd.AddCommand(deaconHealthStateCmd)
 	deaconCmd.AddCommand(deaconStaleHooksCmd)
+	deaconCmd.AddCommand(deaconPauseCmd)
+	deaconCmd.AddCommand(deaconResumeCmd)
 
 	// Flags for trigger-pending
 	deaconTriggerPendingCmd.Flags().DurationVar(&triggerTimeout, "timeout", 2*time.Second,
@@ -259,6 +293,10 @@ func init() {
 	deaconStaleHooksCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&staleHooksDryRun, "dry-run", false,
 		"Preview what would be unhooked without making changes")
 
+	// Flags for pause
+	deaconPauseCmd.Flags().StringVar(&pauseReason, "reason", "",
+		"Reason for pausing the Deacon")
+
 	deaconStartCmd.Flags().StringVar(&deaconAgentOverride, "agent", "", "Agent alias to run the Deacon with (overrides town default)")
 	deaconAttachCmd.Flags().StringVar(&deaconAgentOverride, "agent", "", "Agent alias to run the Deacon with (overrides town default)")
 	deaconRestartCmd.Flags().StringVar(&deaconAgentOverride, "agent", "", "Agent alias to run the Deacon with (overrides town default)")
@@ -418,6 +456,23 @@ func runDeaconStatus(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	sessionName := getDeaconSessionName()
 
+	// Check pause state first (most important)
+	townRoot, _ := workspace.FindFromCwdOrError()
+	if townRoot != "" {
+		paused, state, err := deacon.IsPaused(townRoot)
+		if err == nil && paused {
+			fmt.Printf("%s DEACON PAUSED\n", style.Bold.Render("⏸️"))
+			if state.Reason != "" {
+				fmt.Printf("  Reason: %s\n", state.Reason)
+			}
+			fmt.Printf("  Paused at: %s\n", state.PausedAt.Format(time.RFC3339))
+			fmt.Printf("  Paused by: %s\n", state.PausedBy)
+			fmt.Println()
+			fmt.Printf("Resume with: %s\n", style.Dim.Render("gt deacon resume"))
+			fmt.Println()
+		}
+	}
+
 	running, err := t.HasSession(sessionName)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("checking session: %w", err)
@@ -487,6 +542,19 @@ func runDeaconHeartbeat(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("not in a Gas Town workspace: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	// Check if Deacon is paused - if so, refuse to update heartbeat
+	paused, state, err := deacon.IsPaused(townRoot)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking pause state: %w", err)
+	}
+	if paused {
+		fmt.Printf("%s Deacon is paused. Use 'gt deacon resume' to unpause.\n", style.Bold.Render("⏸️"))
+		if state.Reason != "" {
+			fmt.Printf("  Reason: %s\n", state.Reason)
+		}
+		return errors.New("Deacon is paused")
+	}
+
 	action := ""
 	if len(args) > 0 {
 		action = strings.Join(args, " ")
@@ -951,3 +1019,68 @@ func runDeaconStaleHooks(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// runDeaconPause pauses the Deacon to prevent patrol actions.
+func runDeaconPause(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	townRoot, err := workspace.FindFromCwdOrError()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("not in a Gas Town workspace: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Check if already paused
+	paused, state, err := deacon.IsPaused(townRoot)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking pause state: %w", err)
+	}
+	if paused {
+		fmt.Printf("%s Deacon is already paused\n", style.Dim.Render("○"))
+		fmt.Printf("  Reason: %s\n", state.Reason)
+		fmt.Printf("  Paused at: %s\n", state.PausedAt.Format(time.RFC3339))
+		fmt.Printf("  Paused by: %s\n", state.PausedBy)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Pause the Deacon
+	if err := deacon.Pause(townRoot, pauseReason, "human"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pausing Deacon: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("%s Deacon paused\n", style.Bold.Render("⏸️"))
+	if pauseReason != "" {
+		fmt.Printf("  Reason: %s\n", pauseReason)
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("  Pause file: %s\n", deacon.GetPauseFile(townRoot))
+	fmt.Println()
+	fmt.Printf("The Deacon will not perform any patrol actions until resumed.\n")
+	fmt.Printf("Resume with: %s\n", style.Dim.Render("gt deacon resume"))
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// runDeaconResume resumes the Deacon to allow patrol actions.
+func runDeaconResume(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	townRoot, err := workspace.FindFromCwdOrError()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("not in a Gas Town workspace: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Check if paused
+	paused, _, err := deacon.IsPaused(townRoot)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking pause state: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !paused {
+		fmt.Printf("%s Deacon is not paused\n", style.Dim.Render("○"))
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Resume the Deacon
+	if err := deacon.Resume(townRoot); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resuming Deacon: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("%s Deacon resumed\n", style.Bold.Render("▶️"))
+	fmt.Println("The Deacon can now perform patrol actions.")
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/cmd/prime.go b/internal/cmd/prime.go
index 40105fbf..976b8609 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/prime.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/prime.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/beads"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/checkpoint"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/constants"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/deacon"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/events"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/lock"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/rig"
@@ -601,6 +602,11 @@ func outputStartupDirective(ctx RoleContext) {
 		fmt.Println("   - If attachment found → **RUN IT** (no human input needed)")
 		fmt.Println("   - If no attachment → await user instruction")
 	case RoleDeacon:
+		// Skip startup protocol if paused - the pause message was already shown
+		paused, _, _ := deacon.IsPaused(ctx.TownRoot)
+		if paused {
+			return
+		}
 		fmt.Println()
 		fmt.Println("---")
 		fmt.Println()
@@ -911,6 +917,13 @@ func showMoleculeProgress(b *beads.Beads, rootID string) {
 // Deacon uses wisps (Wisp:true issues in main .beads/) for patrol cycles.
 // Deacon is a town-level role, so it uses town root beads (not rig beads).
 func outputDeaconPatrolContext(ctx RoleContext) {
+	// Check if Deacon is paused - if so, output PAUSED message and skip patrol context
+	paused, state, err := deacon.IsPaused(ctx.TownRoot)
+	if err == nil && paused {
+		outputDeaconPausedMessage(state)
+		return
+	}
+
 	cfg := PatrolConfig{
 		RoleName:        "deacon",
 		PatrolMolName:   "mol-deacon-patrol",
@@ -930,6 +943,32 @@ func outputDeaconPatrolContext(ctx RoleContext) {
 	outputPatrolContext(cfg)
 }
 
+// outputDeaconPausedMessage outputs a prominent PAUSED message for the Deacon.
+// When paused, the Deacon must not perform any patrol actions.
+func outputDeaconPausedMessage(state *deacon.PauseState) {
+	fmt.Println()
+	fmt.Printf("%s\n\n", style.Bold.Render("## ⏸️  DEACON PAUSED"))
+	fmt.Println("You are paused and must NOT perform any patrol actions.")
+	fmt.Println()
+	if state.Reason != "" {
+		fmt.Printf("Reason: %s\n", state.Reason)
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("Paused at: %s\n", state.PausedAt.Format(time.RFC3339))
+	if state.PausedBy != "" {
+		fmt.Printf("Paused by: %s\n", state.PausedBy)
+	}
+	fmt.Println()
+	fmt.Println("Wait for human to run `gt deacon resume` before working.")
+	fmt.Println()
+	fmt.Println("**DO NOT:**")
+	fmt.Println("- Create patrol molecules")
+	fmt.Println("- Run heartbeats")
+	fmt.Println("- Check agent health")
+	fmt.Println("- Take any autonomous actions")
+	fmt.Println()
+	fmt.Println("You may respond to direct human questions.")
+}
+
 // outputWitnessPatrolContext shows patrol molecule status for the Witness.
 // Witness AUTO-BONDS its patrol molecule on startup if one isn't already running.
 func outputWitnessPatrolContext(ctx RoleContext) {
diff --git a/internal/deacon/pause.go b/internal/deacon/pause.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..34d5f8f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/deacon/pause.go
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+// Package deacon provides the Deacon agent infrastructure.
+package deacon
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// PauseState represents the Deacon pause file contents.
+// When paused, the Deacon must not perform any patrol actions.
+type PauseState struct {
+	// Paused is true if the Deacon is currently paused.
+	Paused bool `json:"paused"`
+
+	// Reason explains why the Deacon was paused.
+	Reason string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
+
+	// PausedAt is when the Deacon was paused.
+	PausedAt time.Time `json:"paused_at"`
+
+	// PausedBy identifies who paused the Deacon (e.g., "human", "mayor").
+	PausedBy string `json:"paused_by,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// GetPauseFile returns the path to the Deacon pause file.
+func GetPauseFile(townRoot string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(townRoot, ".runtime", "deacon", "paused.json")
+}
+
+// IsPaused checks if the Deacon is currently paused.
+// Returns (isPaused, pauseState, error).
+// If the pause file doesn't exist, returns (false, nil, nil).
+func IsPaused(townRoot string) (bool, *PauseState, error) {
+	pauseFile := GetPauseFile(townRoot)
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(pauseFile) //nolint:gosec // G304: path is constructed from trusted townRoot
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return false, nil, nil
+		}
+		return false, nil, err
+	}
+
+	var state PauseState
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &state); err != nil {
+		return false, nil, err
+	}
+
+	return state.Paused, &state, nil
+}
+
+// Pause pauses the Deacon by creating the pause file.
+func Pause(townRoot, reason, pausedBy string) error {
+	pauseFile := GetPauseFile(townRoot)
+
+	// Ensure parent directory exists
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(pauseFile), 0755); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	state := PauseState{
+		Paused:   true,
+		Reason:   reason,
+		PausedAt: time.Now().UTC(),
+		PausedBy: pausedBy,
+	}
+
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(state, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return os.WriteFile(pauseFile, data, 0600)
+}
+
+// Resume resumes the Deacon by removing the pause file.
+func Resume(townRoot string) error {
+	pauseFile := GetPauseFile(townRoot)
+
+	err := os.Remove(pauseFile)
+	if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}