New Ministers for Lincoln - Sayedna Silouan visits to ordain a new Subdeacon Athanasios and a new Deacon, Theodore

Report on the Pastoral Visit of His Eminence Metropolitan Silouan to the Parish of All Saints of Lincolnshire, Lincoln

Sayendna Silouan visited All Saints of Lincolnshire Orthodox Church in Lincoln from 13th to 15th March 2026 for the Salutations on the Second Friday of Lent, The Liturgy on the Second Saturday of Lent and The Liturgy of St Basil on Holy Cross.

On Friday His Eminence served the Salutations himself and after the Salutations he addressed the people to talk to them about the importance of attending the Salutations, and the significance of the Mother of God to all Christians, and not just to women. He also reminded them that the prayers, the services, the fasting and almsgiving are not ends in themselves, but rather a means to acquire holiness, which is our true purpose. Afterwards an agape meal was served in the narthex made by the parishioners.

On Saturday His Eminence presided over the Divine Liturgy served by Archimandrite Philip Hall and Deacon Panagiotis Franklin from the throne and spoke further about the role of the tools that the Church gives us as being means to become holy. He also spoke about the importance of the coming feast of the Holy Cross and its significance as the halfway point in lent, that it is the door to the resurrection. While it is a tool of murder, he said, Christ has made it into a tool of salvation. After the service another agape meal made by the parishioners was served as breakfast. His Eminence also presided over Great Vespers served by Archimandrite Philip Hall and Deacon Panagiotis Franklin and gave a short talk continuing to explain holiness as being the purpose and direction of the Christian life. Afterwards another agape meal was served by the parishioners in the narthex.

On the Sunday of the Holy Cross His Eminence served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy concelebrating with the parish priest Archimandrite Philip Hall, Father Alban Campbell, Deacon Panagiotis Franklin and Deacon Aidan Christopher. He also ordained Athanasios Peacock to the Subdiaconate and Cuthbert Reeve to the Diaconate, naming him Deacon Theodore. He also led a beautiful procession of the Holy Cross. Afterwards His Eminence spoke about service in the Church, and how each person, from layman to Bishop, can contribute something to the church. He emphasised, as Saint Paul did, that we are all parts of the Body of Christ that need to work together for the service of God. “We are not serving the Priest, or the Bishop, we are serving Christ”. After the service an agape meal was served in the narthex which was made by the parishioners.