The Ordination of a New Deacon was serviced today in the Metropolitan Church of St Nikolaos in Volos by the Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetrias. This is Fr Stavros Sotiropoulos, who is married, graduate of the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a twin brother of the recently ordained Deacon Fr Ioannis Sotiropoulos.

The ordination was attended by a lot of Clerics from the Holy Dioceses of Demetrias, Thessaloniki, Larissa, Thessaliotis, Drama, Serres, Cydonia, while the Parliament Member of Magnesia Mr. Christos Mpoukoros was present, as well as lots of faithful Christians.

In his speech to the ordained, His Eminence noted that "the current day is a celebration for our Local Church, for the parish of St Nikolaos, for the members of the Clergy and for our people, who have known you and loved you since you were a little child..." Mr Ignatius noted that "we go through a time in which some people think they can impose ideas and beliefs that have nothing to do with the principles, the tradition and the faith of this country, as If they have nothing been taught by history. However, our Lord, God, is alive and as long as there are faithful young people and Christian families, all these ideas will be elusive and these bad moments will be lost some time.                          What will remain, though, is the experience of love, that we are to minister and offer to the world".

His Eminence asked the new Cleric to maintain modesty and love in his heart, imitating the good examples of his life. He referred to the personal experience from the spiritual upbringing of the two brothers, who are Deacons, and expressed his deep satisfaction for their progress and prosperity inside the Church.

Mr Ignatius mentioned the great participation of Clergy from various places of our country, as an indication of unity and sincere love, "offering courage and strength, in order to bear the cross of Christ". Finally, he referred to the valuable contribution of the cleric's wife to his life, since they are destined to go along and minister to the Church, constituting, in this way, models of life to the world.

The new Deacon is to minister to the Metropolitan Church of St Nikolaos in Volos.