On Saturday 21 February 2026, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom (Agia Sophia) in Bayswater. The service formed part of the Cathedral’s customary English-language Liturgy, held on the first and third Saturdays of each month. During the Liturgy, His Eminence ordained Jarod McBride to the Holy Diaconate, bestowing upon him the name Deacon Theodore.
Concelebrating with the Archbishop were the Revd Archpriest Alexander Fostiropoulos, the Revd Presbyter Ian Page, the Revd Presbyter Pavlos Lambrou, the Revd Presbyter Stephen Morys Ireland, together with the Revd Archdeacon George Tsourous and the Revd Deacon Ambrosios Theodorou. The Mosaic Choir offered the liturgical responses, prayerfully guiding the congregation through the solemn and joyful celebration.
In his address of gratitude, the newly ordained Deacon Theodore reflected on his journey to the Orthodox Church – from his upbringing in a small Christian community in Kansas, through a sincere search for the fullness of the apostolic faith, to discovering Orthodoxy through the witness of a faithful priest and the lived experience of forgiveness and communion in Christ.
He spoke movingly of the communities that shaped and sustained him: first in Kansas City, and later at the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul in London, where he and his family were welcomed with warmth and love. It was within this tangible experience of Christian community that his vocation to serve began to take root. He also offered heartfelt thanks to his wife and their two daughters, acknowledging their love, patience, and steadfast support throughout his journey.
Describing the diaconate as a ministry of quiet and faithful service, Deacon Theodore expressed his desire to work behind the scenes in support of the Church’s life, so that others might encounter the love of Christ. He offered heartfelt thanks to His Eminence, to the clergy who guided him, to his parish family, and especially to his wife Mary and their daughters, acknowledging that whatever is good in his ministry flows from their love, sacrifice, and steadfast support. He concluded by affirming that he embraces this sacred responsibility with humility, gratitude, and trust in God.
In his response, the Archbishop reminded the newly ordained deacon that God calls each of us to be set apart – not to withdraw from the world, but in order to serve it more deeply. Addressing Deacon Theodore personally, His Eminence noted the providential timing of his ordination on the eve of the Sunday of Forgiveness. Just as the Church stands at the threshold of the Holy and Great Lent, so too the new deacon begins his ministry grounded in repentance, reconciliation, and humility.
The Archbishop counselled him to remain vigilant in all things, always mindful that he now bears the grace and responsibility of the clergy. The diaconate, he emphasised, is not merely a role but a way of life – one that calls for integrity, attentiveness, and a constant remembrance of Christ. As this new chapter unfolds in the life of the Church and in the life of Deacon Theodore and his family, His Eminence prayed that the grace bestowed upon him would sustain him in faithful and fruitful service for many years to come.
