With great joy, the Diocese and her children received their newly elevated father and shepherd in Christ, His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion, on Tuesday, March 8 at St. Mark Church in Los Angeles.
The reception was attended by almost all of the clergy and many parishioners from the four corners of the Diocese who came to congratulate their father and receive his blessing. After the Prayer of Thanksgiving, there was an Arabic word of congratulations offered by the Hegumen Father Felimon Mikhail outlining the numerous accomplishments of His Eminence in and outside the Diocese and an English word concerning the rank of the metropolitan offered by the Very Reverend Father Dr. John Paul Abdelsayed. In between these words, the blessed deacons of the Diocese chanted hymns honoring His Holiness Pope Abba Tawadros II and His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion.
Finally, His Eminence delivered a powerful word about the future of the Diocese in which he was committed to focus even more deeply on the pastoral and social issues in the service. His Eminence also alluded to the need for a succession plan involving the ordination of one or more auxiliary bishops in the Diocese to assist him in delving deeper into aspects such as theological education and social services.
It was an exceedingly joyful evening that marks the beginning of a new chapter in our Diocese’s history.
