On Saturday, April 10, in the morning, Timotheos Klintsaris, a law graduate and a graduate of Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney, climbed the first step of the priesthood ladder.
Archbishop Makarios of Australia ordained him a deacon at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation in Redfern.
Metropolitan Seraphim of Sebastia, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, many priests from Sydney and many believers attended the ceremony.
In his homily, Archbishop Makarios expressed gratitude to God for the fact that even though in many eparchies and local Churches priesthood is going through a deep crisis, “there are many believers who have the sacred desire of the priesthood,” in the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, “thus they give us the opportunity to choose the best ones, whom we welcome to our Church as clergymen with great pastoral responsibility.”
The Archbishop added, “The separation of Orthodoxy from the Church is the greatest spiritual scandal because it transforms Orthodoxy into a movement or organization and makes it a personal affair that could be handled by anyone.”
He pointed out that the Orthodoxy of the Church unites people, while individual Orthodoxy divides. He pointed out that in Australia “Orthodoxy, which is separated from the Church, was instrumentalized many times by infidels and ignorant people and, as a result, a deep wound was caused within our Archdiocese, that has not been healed.”
“Thus we realize that Orthodoxy is in greater danger today than we are, the Orthodox, who have been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity in contrast to infidel people and foreigners,” he added.
In conclusion, he stressed: “We really need to re-evangelize and put the concept of Orthodoxy into perspective.” He also addressed the new Deacon and asked him to fight for Orthodoxy within the Church.
“Remain steadfast in your faith until the death of the Church of Christ and in our Ecumenical Patriarchate, which, as you can see, is under constant assault from every direction. Fight a ‘good fight’ for the unity and peace of the Church,” he pointed out.
In addition, the newly-ordained Deacon spoke with emotion of the period during which he made the crucial decision to enter the Church. Referring to the election of Archbishop Makarios two years ago, he firstly spoke of his impatience to meet the new Archbishop in person and then of the love and the spiritual rebirth he felt within the local Church.
Addressing the Archbishop, Fr. Timotheos promised to serve Christ and his flock until he passes away, by submitting to the will of the Church.