Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria, along with Protopresbyter Sladjan Vasic, the Presbyters Fr. Athanasios, Fr. Nemanja, and Archdeacon Fr. Maximos, presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Temple of the Theotokos of the Continuing Assistance at the Parish of Leoben, on Sunday, October 24, 2021.
The Divine Liturgy was attended by the Mayor of Leoben Kurt Wallner and the Member of the Local Parliament Helga Ahre.
During the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Arsenios ordained the Reader Stefan Lorbek, a faithful child of the Church, as a Deacon. Before the “ordination”, Stefan Lorbek in a short speech thanked the Metropolitan of Austria for the trust shown to him and acknowledged the great responsibility that the ordained Deacon assumes, whose duties only with divine help from God can be fulfilled. He promised to constantly offer his services, avoiding personal display or gaining fame.
Metropolitan Arsenios encouraged the new Deacon to undertake his ministerial duties with courage and appetite leading people to the path of Christ. “God called you”, stressed the Metropolitan, “to serve in Leoben where you have been working for many years and many people know you. You voluntarily accept the first degree of priesthood and following the call of God out of love for Him and for the people you need to continue with your family to preach the gospel to the world.
During the Dismissal, Metropolitan Arsenios announced the transfer of Fr. Sladjan from next November to the new Parish of Mödling and his replacement by Fr. Nemanja Komnenov.
After the Divine Liturgy, the congregation congratulated the newly ordained Deacon and together with the Metropolitan and the clergy tasted the delicacies that had been kindly prepared by the responsible team of the Holy Temple under the leadership of Karl Mlinar.