On Sunday, May 4th, His Grace Bishop Pavelos of Greece and its dependencies presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Mark in the Greek capital, Athens. The service was attended by the church’s priests, and following the prayer of reconciliation, His Grace conducted the rite of ordination for Deacon Georges Edward Salama to the rank of deacon, much to the joy of the church’s priests, congregation, and deacons.

Deacon Georges is a relative of His Grace Bishop Daniel, the Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite in Australia. He has been serving the church in Greece for the past fifty years and is recognized as the first deacon to be ordained to assist the priests of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Greece. Following the ordination, Bishop Daniel extended his congratulations to his brother Bishop Pavelos, the priests, the congregation of the Coptic Church in Greece, and Deacon Georges himself, wishing him success and blessings in his new service.