Elevation to Protopresbyter

On 31 May, College alumnus Fr Athanasios Giatsios (Bachelor of Theology, 2006; Master of Arts specialising in pastoral ministry, 2007) was elevated to the office of Protopresbyter by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. This conferral took place at the Greek Orthodox Parish of St Catherine (Mascot, NSW) during the end of Matins for the Seventh Sunday of Pascha, the Feast Day of the 318 Holy and God-bearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. His Eminence spoke warmly and praised the character and priestly ministry of Fr Athanasios while he did not hide his regret that, due to public health orders and restrictions in NSW, the parishioners of St Catherine’s were deprived of the opportunity to be present for this significant milestone for their parish priest and to call out, together, ἄξιος “may he be worthy”. He said, however, that he was certain that they were present in mind and spirit and felt the joy and blessing that the Church was bestowing upon him. Finally, His Eminence imparted paternal instructions to Fr Athanasios, urging him to follow in the footsteps of the Holy Fathers who participated in the First Ecumenical Council, to imitate their determination and, above all, to imitate their example by struggling for the unity of the Church. Fr Athanasios has served the Parish of St Catherine’s since 2005.