Well now, this is going to be my very last entry on this blog since I can no longer call myself a Gallican Anglican, or even an Anglican at all. Last Saturday evening His Eminence Metropolitan Paul Saliba, the Antiochian Orthodox Archbishop of Australia and New Zealand ordained (reordered?) me to the priesthood of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East in Sydney, so that I could be (at their request) the Parish Priest of St Michael's Orthodox Church, Fingall Street, in South Dunedin.
If you are surprised, just imagine how I feel!
Last November, as a long-time friend and supporter of St Michael's I was invited to the celebrations surrounding the centenary of the building of the church, and at the lunch after the Divine Liturgy they put the question, so to speak, and following a few days of thought and prayer I could see no reason (apart from my health, and my many faults and failings) to say no.
The following Sunday I went to St Peter's at the end of the Solemn Eucharist to try and explain that I was in no sense rejecting my Anglican past or my ministry in Caversham. However, I need not have worried, wonderful people that they are they are, they all burst into applause! And ever since then all those I have told have been wonderfully encouraging.
So there you are!
So the end really was the beginning!
ReplyDeleteMay God bless you in your new ministry.
Many thanks, dear Wynston, and many apologies for the delay!
ReplyDeleteFather Jack Witbrock taught me German in the early 70s. He was priest of St Michael's while teaching in Dunedin, and previously was an Anglican vicar in Lyttelton.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are well and look forward to your blog Gallican Antiochian or whatever you call it!
Brian