His Eminence
Metropolitan EVANGELOS of New
Jersey
Ordains
Michael J. Diamond to the Holy
Diaconate
Kenilworth, New Jersey –
“The divine grace, which
always heals that which is infirm and completes that which is lacking,
ordains the most devout
Subdeacon MICHAEL to the
office of Deacon. Let us, therefore, pray for him, that the grace of
the All-Holy Spirit may come upon him.”
This was but one of
the moving prayers heard by the Orthodox Faithful who filled the
capacity-only St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Clifton, New Jersey,
on Sunday, October 16, 2005, as His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of
New Jersey, ordained the servant of God, Michael J. Diamond, to the Holy
Diaconate, according to the ancient rites of the Greek Orthodox Church.
The majestic
Ordination service was performed during the beautiful Hierarchical
Divine Liturgy, presided by Metropolitan Evangelos, who was assisted by
the Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey, Rev. Protopresbyter
Anargyros Stavropoulos, V. Rev. Archimandrite John Andreas, V. Rev.
Archimandrite Nektarios Cottros, Rev. Protopresbyter John Orfanakos,
Rev. Protopresbyter Manuel Burdusi, Rev. Economos George Orfanakos,
Proistamenos of St. George Church, and Rev. Economos Dimitrios Moraitis.
In his address to his ordaining
Hierarch, Mr. Diamond thanked His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos for
his support and encouragement during the last 2 years in which he
assisted the Metropolitan. He also thanked his home Community of St.
George in Clifton for their many years of support and encouragement
during his studies at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology, which he graduated from in 2000, and the Community
of St. Nicholas in Baltimore, Maryland, where he served as Lay Assistant
and Youth Director for over 2 years.
In response, His Eminence
Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey exhorted Sub-Deacon Michael to
sacrifice himself fully as a soldier in Christ’s army, always being
ready and willing to serve the Christ’s Church in all capacities.
Furthermore, His Eminence quoted St. John Chrysostom, the Patron Saint
of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey, saying that “the work of the
Priesthood is done on earth, but it is ranked among heavenly
ordinances,” thus encouraging him to constantly serve as with the
Angels, ceaselessly praying and glorifying God.
The sounds of “Axios!”
permeated the emotional atmosphere each time His Eminence blessed an
article of Deacon Michael’s liturgical vestments, as his visibly moved
wife, Mrs. Adamantia Diamond, and his proud mother, Mrs. Argyro Diamond
of Pasaic, New Jersey, looked on. The newly ordained Deacon then took
part in the remainder of the Divine Liturgy with great reverence and
solemnity.
