On Saturday, 11th November, at St Thomas’ Church, Charlton, many clergy, members and friends of the British Orthodox Church, and members of the British Orthodox Fellowship, gathered for the ordination of Deacon Seraphim Mina to the priesthood by Abba Seraphim, Metropolitan of Glastonbury.

A distinguished ecumenical guest said,
What a blessed and wonderful day. Thank you for the care and love you displayed in preparing and celebrating the occasion of Seraphim’s Ordination to the Priesthood. Thank you too for so very generously (and ecumenically) allowing Fr. Patrick and myself to have been granted a part in it all. This was so important to me and I know it was for Fr. Patrick. I also have some idea of just how much it meant to Seraphim.

You will be happy to know that the reactions I have already gleaned from the S. Alban’s folk who were present ( as well as from a number of Seraphim’s personal friends) is that the whole event was Holy, beautiful and had a wonderful balance of the solemn and the personal. All so very important in darkening days for the whole Christian family of Christ’s Holy Church. The sense of fellowship in the Holy Spirit both during and after the service at the lovely and well-appointed reception was palpable – hearts as well as stomachs were filled by the hospitality of you, your clergy and people. LAUS DEO.