Parish Life
Deacon Gregory Rubis Ordained to Holy Priesthood
Deacon Gregory receiving the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos.
Father Peter receiving the blessing of His Grace Bishop Ilia.
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n Sunday, February 19, 2012, in the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey and the faithful of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Ilia of Philomelion ordained Deacon Gregory Rubis to the Holy Priesthood by the Laying on of Hands. This day of celebration began with Orthros and a hierarchical Divine Liturgy. The ordination of a priest happens after the Great Entrance at the conclusion of the Cherubic Hymn when the Holy Gifts are placed upon the Altar Table. Deacon Gregory was presented to Bishop Ilia by Rev. Fr. Peter Delvizis and Fr. Rev. Rev. David F. Garretson of Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, NJ. At this point, the two priests escort the candidate around the Holy Altar Table. Here he bows with reverence before it kissing the four corners of the Table. After this was done three times,
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His Grace Bishop Ilia of Philomelion, Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America, under the Jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
His Grace Bishop Ilia cordially engaging the faithful during his sermon.
Deacon Gregory being lead to the solea by his brother, Deacon Andrew, just prior to ordination.
Deacon Gregory then knelt on both knees before the Holy Altar. With fear, placing his hands in the sign of the Cross, right upon left, he rests his head upon his hands on the Holy Altar Table. This signifies the candidate humbly surrendering himself to God. The hierarch then made the sign of the Cross upon the candidate and straightway laid his hands upon him who is to be ordained and called upon the Holy Spirit to descend upon him. The entire congregation also kneeling at this point asks the Lord to likewise make the candidate worthy to be a priest. After the concluding prayer, the hierarch presented the newly ordained presbyter to the people and proceeded to vest him in priestly garments. The hierarch proclaims the priest worthy by saying, AXIOS! There upon, the entire congregation gives ascent and confirms the bishop’s proclamation by also saying, AXIOS!
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church ^ Westfield, New Jersey
After ordin of Ph a set o
The Presv to con and f