2012-04-22
His Eminence John, Metropolitan of Europe, celebrated the Sunday of St. Thomas in the parish of all Saints of Lincolnshire.
On the occasion of his visit, vespers was celebrated on Saturday evening with the presence of the Anglican Bishop of Lincoln the Right Revd Christopher Lowson, the Archdeacon of Lincoln the Venerable Tim Barker, the Dean of the Cathedral the very Revd Philip Buckler and the Reverend David Yabbacomb.
At the of the vespers, His Eminence addressed the faithful wishing them a blessed period of resurrection. He also underlined the importance of the good relationship between the Churches as an essential element of our being "Christians". His Eminence took the opportunity to thank the Lord Bishop of Lincoln for his support to the local orthodox Antiochian community.
On Sunday morning, His Eminence presided over the Divine Liturgy in which Frs. Philip Hall (the parish priest), George Hacken, Michael Harry and deacon Parthenius participated. In this joyous paschal Divine Liturgy, His Eminence ordained Rev. Paulinus Heggs to the Holy Diaconate and made Magdi Ibrahim a reader.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence delivered a speech in which he wished a blessed ministry to the newly ordained and joyous paschal period to the parishioners whom he met after the Liturgy at the Agape prepared by them.
