On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium and Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxembourg visited the Parish of Saint Phocas in Tournai, Belgium, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and ordain a new deacon.
The newly ordained deacon, Cristian Moisa, is of Romanian origin. He is married and has one child. He is a spiritual protégé of the parish priest of Saint Phocas, Protopresbyter Ciprian Popescu.
The Divine Liturgy was also attended by the Parish Priest of Saint Barbara in Charleroi, Protopresbyter Mr. Nikolaos Arvanitopoulos; Protopresbyter Mr. Konstantinos Kenanidis, Director of the French-speaking section of the Orthodox Theological Institute “Apostle Paul”; Archdeacon Mr. Panteleimon Bakalis; and Deacons Mr. Symeon Hiniç and Mr. Vasileios Psallas, while the church choir performed the hymns. This significant event was honored by the presence of the Catholic Archpriest of Tournai.
At the conclusion of Matins and before the Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan performed the ordination of Mr. Cristian Moisa as a Reader and subsequently as a Subdeacon.
In his address, the Metropolitan emphasized the gravity and importance of the sacred ministry, noting that entering the holy priestly vocation marks the beginning of a spiritual ascent and that ministry is a divine mission rather than a human honor. He encouraged the new deacon not to fear difficulties but to trust in divine presence and guidance.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan expressed his gratitude to the participating clergy for their presence, to the parish priest for nurturing the calling of the new deacon, to his wife for her support, to the chanters for the rendition of the hymns, and to all the faithful who came to pray and support the new deacon at the beginning of his ministry.
Following the service, a celebratory meal was held in the church’s adjacent hall.
