On Wednesday, January 21, the day on which the Church commemorates Venerable Maximos the Confessor, the Cathedral of the Apostle Andrew in Birmingham witnessed moments of liturgical splendor.
Bishop Maximos of Melitene presided over the Eucharistic gathering in honor of his patron saint and was accompanied by clergy who had come to share in the joy of the feast.
Concelebrating at the holy altar were Archimandrites Fathers Vissarion and Christodoulos Kokliotis; Protopresbyters Fathers Christos Stefanou and Theodoros Polyviou; and Presbyter Father Georgios Athanasopoulos.
During the Divine Liturgy, Mr. Adam Kyriakou Georgiou was ordained to the diaconate—a young married man joining the clergy. In his address to the ordinand, the Bishop invited the new deacon to embody humility as a permanent inner state, not merely as an external gesture.
Archimandrite Fr. Christodoulos Kokliotis, the cathedral’s presiding priest, delivered the sermon. He spoke extensively on the confession of faith that characterized the life of Saint Maximos. He connected the Confessor’s theological strength with the demands of our times and conveyed the prayers and best wishes of the clergy and faithful to the bishop celebrating his name day.
Before dismissing the assembly, Bishop Maximos expressed his gratitude to the clergy and congregation for their presence and shared prayers. The gathering concluded with a festive meal in the church hall in honor of the celebrating hierarch and the newly ordained deacon. All the faithful attended.
Read below the address of Bishop Maximos of Melitene:
Beloved child in the Lord, Adam,
Today, you stand before the Throne of God, which even the angels long to gaze upon. You are about to be vested for ministry, not because of your own merit or human invention, but because of the Master of the Church’s ineffable condescension. He called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. This calling, burning with the fire of devotion rather than worldly glory, requires a vigilant soul and a mind fixed on things above so that you are not dragged down by the weight of the material world, but rather, are lifted on spiritual wings toward immaterial worship.
You are entering the arena of spiritual struggle and becoming an imitator of the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, who “was full of faith and power, performing great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). You are seeking not the praise of mortals, but rather, the following of the Master Christ, who washed the feet of his disciples. As He came not to be served but to serve, so too must you offer yourself as a living sacrifice pleasing to God, forgetting your own concerns while continually caring for the Lord’s.
Along with the duty of ministry, the honorable yoke of family life rests upon your shoulders. Having a wife and children constitutes your serene haven and a “household church.” He who governs his household well is approved in the Church of God. Remember those who have helped and guided you, especially your spiritual father, Protopresbyter Theodoros Polyviou, who nurtured your soul, and the Most Reverend Archimandrite Christodoulos Kokliotis, who faithfully supports you as a brother, guiding you along the challenging path of the priesthood.
“Take heed, then, to yourself.” Ministry is not a position of authority, but rather, a continual act of kenosis and giving. “Holding the mystery of faith with a clear conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9), be a model for the faithful in word, conduct, love, and spirit. Do not seek high positions, but accompany the lowly, knowing that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Be a burning lamp and shine, with the sole goal of manifesting Christ’s light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death.
On this auspicious day, receive the paternal prayers and blessings of our shepherd, the most reverend Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain. His constant care and love protect and support you on your priestly journey. In this sacred sanctuary of the First-Called, where grace is abundantly poured forth, submit to the divine will and accept this gift. Having served well, you will “attain a good standing and great boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus.”
Enter into the joy of your Lord. May the God of peace equip you to do His will in every good work. Amen.
Birmingham, January 21, 2026
† Maximos of Melitene
Photos: NikAntoniPhotography / Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
