Elevation of Subdeacon Mark

On the Sunday of the Prefeast of Theophany, Metropolitan Chrysostomos elevated St. Andrew Orthodox Church’s Reader Mark was elevated to the order of Subdeacon and vested in the sticharion and orarion of an Orthodox subdeacon. The service preceded the Sunday liturgy at the monastery chapel of Met. Chrysostomos in Quito, Ecuador. This was Subdeacon Mark’s third visit to Quito as he continues to learn and grow under the spiritual guidance of the metropolitan.

In addition to participating in the services of the week, Metropolitan Chrysostomos met with Subdcn. Mark to review our mission’s Typica service and suggest corrections and improvements to better reflect correct Orthodox praxis. We will be implementing these changes immediately in our services at St. Andrew’s mission.

Reader Mark also received the Holy Water blessed by Met. Chrysostomos for use at the mission and for distribution to our members. Holy water will be available at all services for the next month. Finally, Metropolitan Chrysostomos expressed his prayers for the mission, and his hope that he can soon visit Texas to bless the mission and consecrate the altar.

Additional photos of the elevation can be found in our photo gallery.