Ordination

On Saturday 6 August, The Great Feast of our Lord's Transfiguration, College student Shadi Hanna was ordained to the holy diaconate by His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, in the Church of St Nicholas (East Melbourne, VIC). In his guiding speech, His Eminence reflected on the state of the human person, and noted the nostalgia or longing one constantly feels to be with their Lord, as exemplified by the Apostle Peter who, when faced with Jesus' Question to perhaps leave the ministry, replied on  behalf of the disciples, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68). The newly ordained deacon was also bestowed with the name 'Ignatius' after the early Apostolic Father, Bishop of Antioch, and holy martyr. Dn Ignatius will serve at the same parish of St Nicholas. He and his wife Mayssa (also a current student) are blessed with two daughters.