I.M. Kinshasa: On the feast day of the great Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Kinshasa, Mr. Theodosios, accompanied by his clergy and lay collaborators, traveled early in the morning to the city of Kisantu, where during the Divine Liturgy, the ordination to the priesthood of the parish Deacon, Fr. Ioannis, was performed.
The Orthodox Church arrived in the city of Kisantu about two years ago. There, a Holy Temple was erected in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God by the blessed, now, Metropolitan of Rodostolo, Kyrios Chrysostomos of Mount Athos. The Holy Temple was built in a short period of time and was consecrated last year by His Eminence the Metropolitan of Kinshasa, Mr. Theodosios.
This morning, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated, during which His Eminence proceeded with the ordination to the priesthood of the parish Deacon, Fr. Ioannis, who is a native of Kisantu and a graduate of the Theological School of the Orthodox University of Congo "Saint Athanasios the Athonite."
During his speech, the new Priest glorified God and thanked the Most Holy Mother of God for the special honor and blessing she reserved for him to receive the second degree of the Priesthood on the day of her great feast of the Dormition.
Referring to the words of the Holy Fathers regarding the height and majesty of the office of the Priesthood, he asked the holy clergy and the people to pray for his unworthiness, so that he may respond with consistency and humility to the great ministry entrusted to him by the Church.
He especially thanked His Eminence the Metropolitan of Kinshasa, Mr. Theodosios, from whom he received both degrees of the Priesthood, for his effort to bring Orthodoxy to Kisantu and to establish it in the region, with the presence of two clerics and the construction of the Holy Temple of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
He also expressed his gratitude to the benefactor of the parish and founder of the celebrating Holy Temple, the blessed Metropolitan of Rodostolo, Kyrios Chrysostomos the Athonite, for his invaluable contribution to the local Church.
Subsequently, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Kinshasa, Mr. Theodosios, referred to the glorious day of the Dormition of the Mother of God, interpreting the prophetic passage of the Prophet Ezekiel:
"This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, and it shall be shut."
His Eminence particularly emphasized that the Panagia (All-Holy) becomes the gate through which man becomes a partaker of God; the gate through which God entered the world and through which man enters into eternity.
On the occasion of the ordination of the new Priest, he underlined that every cleric is also called to constantly become such a gate, through which the faithful who approach him, through the Grace of the Holy Mysteries, will be led and ascended to the Kingdom of God.
His Eminence urged the new Priest to always walk with humility, faith, and love, noting that only with these virtues can a spiritual father be accepted and win the hearts of people.
At the same time, he praised the Priest and parish priest, Archimandrite Fr. Timotheos, as well as the newly ordained Fr. Ioannis, for the blessed effort they are making in Kisantu so that Orthodoxy may "take flesh and bones" and root itself even more deeply in this place.
With particular emotion, he finally referred to his former teacher during his years of study at the Athoniad School, the blessed Metropolitan of Rodostolo, Kyrios Chrysostomos, expressing his gratitude for his invaluable contribution and, specifically, for the construction and offering of the Holy Temple of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Kisantu.
Concluding, His Eminence conveyed to the new Priest, the parish priest, and all the faithful of the parish the wishes and blessings of the Alexandrian Locum Tenens, His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Mr. Theodore II, wishing that the Grace of the Panagia may cover, strengthen, and guide this newly established Orthodox community of Kisantu.