The new Archdeacon in Cyprus, the Venerable Paul Carr, was today collated at St Paul’s Cathedral in Nicosia, in a service led by Bishop Sean that included the Ordination to the Diaconate of the Reverend Maria Evangelou of Nicosia. (Click here for video.)
In his sermon, Bishop Sean referred to the richness of Anglican ritual and symbolism, and the threefold ministry of Deacons, Priests and Bishops—“each a distinct but complementary ministry by which the Church is built up and the mission of Christ is realised in the world.
“Deacons are ordained to a ministry of ‘visible self-giving’,” he said. “They should be committed to serving all, but particularly the poorest and most vulnerable in society.”
Following on from an accomplished career in nursing, Maria has long been deeply involved in outreach work at St Paul’s and is Community Outreach Coordinator for the Cyprus Archdeaconry.
“Deacons are also specifically set apart to preach the good news of Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Sean, “and to prayerfully hold the needs of the world before God. But in all things, a deacon’s life and ministry must reveal something of the loving humility of Christ.
“In the life of the deacon, if not every Christian, there should be a daily emptying of pride, ego and personal agenda in the service of Christ, and a daily refilling with the Holy Spirit so that the Church and world may see the holiness of humility, the prophetic challenge of humility, the divine power that flows through humility.”
Whether a deacon became a priest; whether a priest became a bishop, “that commitment to humility should be seen in every deacon and priest and bishop.”
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As for archdeacons, they are not one of the three orders of clergy. Emerging around the 4th century as a position to administer church finances and property under the bishop’s direction, the role was originally undertaken by deacons but came, in time, to be fulfilled by senior priests.
“An archdeacon is a critical friend to a bishop,” said Bishop Sean—“a confidante, supporter and challenger.
Paul, who is also Paphos parish priest, is well-suited to the role.
“His parish experience and passion for church growth, mission, and evangelism are well-known, and I look forward to working with him and the clergy and laity of Cyprus to discern how the churches of this island can flourish.”
Reflecting on the Old Testament lesson from the Book of Leviticus, Bishop Sean addressed Paul and Maria, calling on them to “guard the holy fire on the altar of [their] hearts”—to always find time to pray the daily offices, for devotion, to see their spiritual directors and to find a healthy life-work balance.”
The day also marked the first anniversary of Bishop Sean’s Consecration and Installation at St Christopher’s Cathedral in Bahrain—a year that he described as “without doubt the busiest and most challenging year of my life.
“Every sermon I preach, I preach firstly to myself. For me, it is a daily challenge to keep the fire on the altar burning but I have found that in doing so, there is abundant grace and the power of Christ in our weakness.
“And so may Christ stir up his gifts in us, and may his humility and love burn in our lives with inextinguishable blaze to the glory of God. Amen.”
Photo credits: The Reverend Deborah Moorgas and Canon Georgia Katsantonis
