The clerical family of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia welcomed a new member on Sunday, 21 June. The new Deacon, Fr Theophylaktos, was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. He entered the monastic life at the age of eighteen and subsequently trained under His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol in Cyprus, before relocating and settling in Sydney, Australia, where he is currently pursuing theological studies at Saint Andrew’s Theological College.
The ordination of the new Deacon was performed by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, assisted by His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod, and His Grace Bishop Christophoros of Kerasounta, Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese, at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Sydney.
In his address of exhortation, His Eminence offered spiritual counsel to Fr Theophylaktos, stressing at the outset that the legacy of his monastic dedication would be of immense value for his future ministry in the priesthood. “Within the monastery,” he observed, “we learn the life of obedience, offering, forgiveness and coexistence with others.” He further emphasised that “the virtue of obedience is essential for everyone within the Church and not only for monks,” adding: “For the clergyman in particular, obedience is a fundamental prerequisite for his journey within the Church, because otherwise disturbances, problems, divisions and schisms arise within the ecclesial body.”
The Archbishop then explained why he had chosen to bestow upon the new Deacon the name of his late predecessor, Metropolitan Theophylaktos Papathanassopoulos of Australia and New Zealand. As he explained, this Hierarch “faced very great opposition during his episcopal ministry from groups that opposed the canonical order of the Church and wished to function with impunity and unchecked autonomy, without any relationship or accountability to the canonical Shepherd. Therefore, by giving you the name of the late Theophylaktos, I wished to emphasise that the greatest and most important quality for a clergyman, and especially for a monk, is neither academic study, nor degrees, nor eloquence, nor a beautiful voice. The greatest virtue is obedience to the Church.”
Furthermore, he urged Fr Theophylaktos to preserve the virtues of humility and simplicity, to avoid attachment to worldly things, love of money and a secular mindset, and to walk his path with love and forgiveness, showing mercy to the poor and vulnerable brother, and maintaining an ecclesial mindset and obedience to the Church.
In summary, he underlined that “your spiritual foundations and your journey thus far within our holy Church, your good and gentle character, your love for theological learning and your zeal for the love of God, give me the certainty that you will become a good and worthy clergyman who will honour his ministry at the Holy Altar.”
In concluding, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios observed that the immigrant background of the new Deacon’s personal journey constitutes an additional asset for the fruitful fulfilment of his ministry within the Orthodox Church in Australia. “It is important for the Hellenism of Australia,” he remarked, “that you were born and raised in Montreal, Canada. This means that you understand the struggles of immigrants and of ordinary hardworking people who left their homeland in search of a better future.”
