Fifth Saturday of Pascha, May 28, 2022

A highlight among the many celebrations of this year’s Memorial Day Pilgrimage was the ordination of Deacon Athanasios Kombos to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Archbishop Michael of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey on behalf of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America. Archbishop Michael presided at the Liturgy with His Grace Bishop Thomas of the Diocese of Oakland, Charleston, and the Mid-Atlantic of the Antiochian Archdiocese concelebrating. Other concelebrants included Archimandrite Sergius of St. Tikhon’s Monastery; Archpriest John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary; and many of Priest Athanasios’ brother seminarians and classmates. Priest Athanasios’ wife, Presbytera Gorgonia, and their three boys were joined by his parents and sister to celebrate the grace-filled day. On the same day following his ordination, Priest Athanasios graduated from St. Tikhon’s with honors in Church History. Fr. Athanasios is assigned to St. John of Damascus Orthodox Church in Tyler, TX, under the omophorion of His Eminence Archbishop Alexander of the Diocese of the South in the Orthodox Church in America. Many years to Fr. Athanasios, Presbytera Gorgonia, and their family!

AXIOS! AXIOS! AXIOS!

By Priest Maximus Gibson, Class of 2022