Ordination

On Saturday 13 August, College alumnus Deacon Kyriakos Tsapas (DipChSt, 2016) was ordained to the holy priesthood by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Haralambos (Templestowe, VIC). Also in attendance were Their Graces Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis and Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta. In his guiding speech to the newly ordained priest, His Eminence advised him of the danger that lurks, for every clergyman, to lose the orientation of his mission, despite the enthusiasm, love and devotion he has at the beginning of his ministry. “And this happens because we priests forget that we are here not to preach ourselves, not to say things of our own, not to lead people to us and win people’s love, but to orientate people to Christ and the Church.” Regarding how to avoid this danger, His Eminence cited St John Chrysostom who stated that bishops and clergy must preach the Gospel, that which Christ lived and that which the Fathers of the Church preach. “We do not preach and we do not present our lives, but our purpose is to preach and present Christ”, the Archbishop emphasised in conclusion, while expressing his conviction that Fr Kyriakos would become a faithful cleric of the Archdiocese as he possesses prudence and humility, virtues that he wished him to preserve until the end of his life. Fr Kyriakos and Presbytera Maria have a son, Anastasios. Fr Kyriakos will serve as the assistant parish priest of St Haralambos, alongside the Very Revd Fr Elias Kentrotis who is his spiritual father and who has been the senior parish priest since 1988.