Deacon Ordination in the Holy Metropolis of Corfu
On Saturday, March 23, 2019, his Eminence, the Bishop of Corfu, Paxoi and Diapontian Islands, Mr. Nektarios did the Divine Liturfy in the Holy CHurch of Saint Kyriaki in Chrysiida, where he ordained as a deacon, father Konstantinos Merianos, married with two children.
In his speech, Father Konstantinos referred to the feelings of fear, terror, cowardice, awe, craving, but above all joy, which feels like the highest gift God gives to man. Fear, for the work of the ministry is an unbearable cross. The deacon is called on the day of his ordination to resemble Him who has not come to be moved, but to minister to man. He who left his ninety-nine sheep and searched everywhere, with much anguish, perseverance and patience, in order to find one, the lost.
Horror, for the terrible ministry of the altar, where the Holy Angels stand before it, not daring or looking at it. Dread, thinking how very devoted and careful the deacon must remain, because the present man is very hurt, yet hungry and thirsty for Christ. Awe, because the deacon of all those who play on the Holy Table is witnessed, despite his inexorability. It is also a joyful expression, because the passion of the heart of Fr. Constantine is fulfilled. He fulfilled after much prayer and patience.
Concluding, father Konstantinos deeply thanked his Eminence, expressing gratitude to him for his paternal love, and still thanked his first spiritual father, the late Archim. Methodios Metallinos, Abbot of the H. M. of V.M. Platyteras, his spiritual father, Rev. Evangelos Koutras, and finally his family.
Subsequently, in his address, the Bishop of Corfu stressed that Constantine’s patience and prayer was the guarantee that the Lord rewards him, giving him possibility as another angel to stand in His horrible altar, taking the ministry of the biggest of Mysteries. The ministry is not only honor but also responsibility, obligation and cross. The course from the earthly to the super-heavenly altar is uphill. In front of the altar there are two versions. Either to be sanctified or burnt by the Divine Grace. He who does not understand the Uncreated Grace of God can not experience all that is happening within the Church. The deacon, like Noah, is called in this terribly difficult time, where the world has lost its spiritual orientation and turned into matter and flesh, forgetting that man is a psychosomatic entity, is called upon to attract people back to Christ and in the Church.
In addition, his Eminence emphasized that the ones in power believed and still believe that cutting off the salary of the priests, generating disincentives to those who wish to become clergy, and that product of the time will lead to the ysi the Church of Christ. But they are planted in vain. No Clergy did not think he would have any money, but they are all fighting for the heavenly salary, which is not bought and is not measured by anything secular and is no other than the Kingdom of Heaven, the endless communion with the Holy Trinity. God will never abandon His Church. On the contrary, we have abandoned Christ and betray Him daily with our gratitude.
In closing, Mr. Nektarios, on the occasion of the Gospel’s Reading of the Day, called on Constantine to lift the cross of ministry and to proclaim Christ Crucified and Ressurected, and his prayer to resist the underlying enemies and are no other than secularism, self-love, ambition, and familiarity with the Holy Mysteries of our Church.
