Deacons Ordained for Melbourne Congregations

The Melbourne congregations of the Assyrian Church of the East have seen the momentous ordination of two young faithful to the Holy Diaconate on Sunday 22 January 2012.

Lector Morris Daood and Hindreen Youkhana were ordained as deacons by His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon on the fourth Sunday of the epiphany during the Metropolitan’s arch-episcopal sojourn to Melbourne.

In addition to serving the Assyrian congregations of St. George and St. Odisho, the newly ordained deacons will also take an active role in serving the faithful attending the English Eucharistic Liturgy that is celebrated on a fortnightly basis in Melbourne and also ministers to faithful through Bible study groups and a Youth Association.

In the evening following the ordination, a fundraising dinner was held at Ishtar Reception Centre where His Beatitude provided an update on the progress of the construction of St. Odisho Church in Coolaroo with the end of 2012 envisioned as a completion date.

In his remarks at the dinner, the Metropolitan beseeched the faithful to enhance their support of the Holy Church’s ministries and labour tirelessly to foster greater faith and morality within the loving and nurturing embrace of the Christian family.

Faithful wishing to contribute towards the fundraising efforts for the construction of St. Odisho Church can contact the Church Council of the Assyrian Church of the East in Melbourne each Sunday at St. George Church in Reservoir.

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