His Eminence received a warm welcome when he arrived there the previous night, by Abbot Joseph and the brotherhood of the monastery and a number of pious visitors, who had come to the monastery on the occasion of the Archbishop’s visit.
In the morning of Nov. 18 Archbishop Demetrios presided at the Divine Liturgy in the Monastery’s church, which was attended by many visitors. During the Divine Liturgy His Eminence ordained monk Stephanos Gianakouros to the deaconate and deacon Michael Santos to the priesthood, who had been ordained a deacon the previous day, by His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane.
Just before the end of the Liturgy the Archbishop addressing the congregation underlined the importance of the holy priesthood, which is the sacrament that completely changes a person. “The bishop, the priest, the deacon and by extension the monk, must live as Saint Paul says in his letter to the Galatians ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’ (Gal. 2:20) The true clergyman, the bishop, the priest, the deacon, are people who have been crucified with Christ and they must feel that Christ lives in them,” said His Eminence.
The Archbishop concluded with a wish and a prayer: “I pray that the two new clergymen, who from today on enrich the priestly ranks of this Holy Monastery, along with all the other clergy, be always icons and witnesses and reflections of Jesus Christ in every aspect.”
A meal for the Archbishop, the clergy, the monastic brotherhood and the guests followed in the monastery’s trapeza.
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