The Ordination of the former Deacon Panagiotis to the Priesthood and some other ordinations ... in Lincoln

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

Sayedna Silouan visited All Saints of Lincolnshire Orthodox Church in Lincoln from 30th to 31st May 2026 for Holy Pentecost.

On Saturday evening His Eminence attended Great Vespers of Holy Pentecost, served by Archimandrite Philip Hall and Deacon Panagiotis Franklin, after which he gave a sermon about the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Church at Pentecost. He emphasised the significant role that the Holy Spirit plays in our Christian lives as He performs the sacraments at the request of the Priest and brings us towards Christ by making us holy charismatically. He also stressed the importance of humility in requesting the help of the Holy Spirit, and not demanding Him to do things, but asking from a place of obedience. “[Some Christians] tell the Holy Spirit to come, we only ask.”

On the Sunday of Holy Pentecost His Eminence served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, concelebrating with the parish priest Archimandrite Philip Hall, Father Christopher Bennigsen from York, Deacon Panagiotis Franklin, Deacon Aidan Christopher and Deacon Theodore Reeve. He tonsured Gabriel-Demetrios Hewitt as a reader, ordained Stylianos Epps and Gabriel Niculescu to the Subdiaconate and ordained Deacon Panagiotis Franklin to the Priesthood. He also led the kneeling prayers of Holy Pentecost. Afterwards he spoke to the people about the need for prayer, and gave the newly-ordained Priest Panagiotis a prayer rope with the charge to remember to pray. “Do you want to be holy? Use the prayer. Do you want to defeat the devil? Use the prayer.” After the service His Eminence spoke privately with those in the parish who were studying for the E-Quip course and discerning their vocation in church ministry. Afterwards an agape meal was served in the narthex prepared by Father Panagiotis’ godmother Eugenia Procopiou and the church warden Eleni Simpson, along with other members of the community.