The faithful of the Holy Resurrection in Brookville, NY, witnessed the ordination of Dn. Gregory Gatanas to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on Sunday, Nov. 9, the Feastday of St. Nektarios.
Fr. Gregory has served the Brookville community for the past five years and will now continue his ministry at Saint Sophia Cathedral in Washington, D.C., alongside his Presvytera Eleftheria.
In his words to Fr. Gregory, Archbishop Elpidophoros said, “Let your ministry as a priest be marked by mindful prayer and humble praise of the Most High, so that, like Saint Nektarios, you are not pointing a microscope on your own life, but you are rather telescoping your love into the universe – even beyond the very stars, to the Throne of Heaven, that is ‘like a vision of jasper and sardius, glowing like an emerald rainbow.’ May you enjoy many, many years of service before the Throne of God, the Holy Altar that is upon the earth. May your ministry be blessed as was that of the Saint whose memory we celebrate today, that your life and the life of your family be a happy one, filled with the satisfaction that comes from the ministry of love and service to others.”
Photos by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos
