On Saturday, June 20, Archbishop Makarios of Australia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of All Saints in Belmore, Sydney, where, in an atmosphere of spiritual joy and emotion, he ordained Subdeacon Panayiotis Konstantis, a graduate of St Andrew’s Theological College, to the Holy Diaconate.
Praying in attendance during the Divine Liturgy was Bishop Christophoros of Kerassounta, Protosyncellus of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Numerous clergy from Sydney also participated, including Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Fr. Panayiotis Mavrommatis, the spiritual father of the ordinand.
Prior to his ordination, Subdeacon Panayiotis expressed his gratitude to the Triune God for the great gift of the priesthood which he was about to receive, as well as to his Hierarch for the paternal care, spiritual guidance, and encouragement he has offered him. Addressing Archbishop Makarios, he remarked: “I am deeply inspired by Your Eminence’s desire that all those outside the Church may come into the Church, as well as by the compassion and love you show to all people. Through my ministry, I hope to contribute, even in a humble way, to this work.”
In his address, the Archbishop spoke about the great Mystery of the Priesthood and expressed his confidence that the ordinand possessed the necessary qualities to enter this sacred ministry.
“Today I receive you into the first rank of the priesthood,” he said, “with great and firm hope that you will become a good and worthy clergyman, serving the holy Altar and our Church with prudence and integrity, and that you will increase and multiply the treasure you receive today—a treasure beyond comparison and beyond any price in this world.”
“You were born to blessed parents,” he continued, “and from a young age you learned to love Christ and be devoted to His Church. First, you served in the sanctuary as an altar boy, then in the choir stand as a lampadarios, having studied Byzantine music, and later as a teacher for younger people who wished to learn the sacred art of chanting. As a member of the Youth Fellowship of the Parish of All Saints, you participated in all the significant events of the community.
You played a leading role in establishing the charitable initiative ‘Mother Maria of Paris’ and, in addition to your studies in the field of Health Sciences, you also pursued theological studies at our Theological College. You have lived a prudent and disciplined life. You cultivated yourself diligently, for the desire for the priesthood was always present in your heart, and you prepared yourself for it. Two years ago, you married your beloved wife, Zoe, daughter of our devout and beloved clergyman Fr. Anastasios Bozikis, and Christ recently blessed you with the birth of a son. I rejoice and feel proud of you, because everything in your life has been orderly, modest, and measured.”
Concluding his remarks, Archbishop Makarios offered paternal advice to the newly ordained Deacon, encouraging him to proceed on his new path with courage and trust in Christ.
“Entrust everything to the Rock spoken of in today’s Gospel—the Rock who is Christ,” he urged, explaining: “Nothing can move this Rock. Neither the rain of sorrows, nor the rivers of slander, nor the winds of temptation. Christ is the unshakable foundation upon which we all rely so that we do not collapse, for our own strength is weak and insufficient.
People will disappoint you, deceive you, and betray you. Even behind bright smiles and kind words, you will soon discover that hypocrisy, gossip, and slander often lurk. Do not lose heart, do not become bitter, and do not repay evil with evil. Place your hope in Christ, for He is the immovable Rock, the steadfast foundation upon which the waves of the evil one are shattered.”
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Panayiotis received the heartfelt congratulations and blessings of the clergy and faithful in attendance.
