The Licensing of the new Senior Chaplain of St Paul’s Anglican Church Athens
A VERY SPECIAL SERVICE
On the Fourth Sunday of Trinity, 23rd June, 2024, Dr. Leslie Nathaniel, Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe and the East licensed Rev. Benjamin Drury as Chaplain of the Anglican Church of St. Paul’s, Athens in the Diocese of Europe. Diocesan clergy who attended were Area Dean Father Leonard Doolan and Father Bruce Bryant-Scott of St. Thomas the Apostle, Crete, joined by Licensed Reader Jackie Dallos from Lefkada and Father Bjorn of the Swedish Church accompanied by members of his congregation.
It gave us great pleasure to welcome the British Ambassador, His Excellency Matthew Lodge, Her Excellency Dr. Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela, Ambassador of South Africa, Major Beat Rieder of the Salvation Army and other close friends of the Chaplaincy, including Mr. Spiros Mantas, Director of Piraeus Bank and representatives of Aei Ferein and the Salvation Army Green Light Project. Messages of support for Father Ben, with prayers and blessings, were received from our Orthodox friends who could not attend due to the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost and all looked forward to meeting with him before long.
A thoughtful and moving service included seven hymns, the final one being Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, and Psalm 23. Father Ben was presented by Wardens Trevor Kamuzonde and Lynn Stavrou and the congregation promised to accept him, uphold him and pray for him. He then swore the Oath of Allegiance to King Charles III, his heirs and successors and the Oath of Canonical Obedience to the Lord Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe and his successors. In affirmation of his ministry, Father Ben was presented with offerings of Water for Baptism, the Oil of Healing, a Bible, the Book of Common Worship, Bread and Wine, a Hymn Book symbolising Music, a symbol of Ecumenism and one of Ministry with Young People and he then led Prayers of Intercession followed by the Liturgy of the Sacrament.
Several guests were invited to say a few personal words, including Father Ben’s mother, Linda, after which everyone gathered in the garden for refreshments. It was with great joy that we raised a glass to welcome our new Chaplain, to meet old friends and be introduced to others whose names we knew but had not had the opportunity to meet in person and for congregation members to speak with Father Ben for the first time. After an interregnum of almost one year (apparently short compared with others), during which our Council and Standing Committee were solely responsible for the church and no services were missed, thanks to Assistant Chaplain Deacon Chris, Father Bjorn and Licensed Reader Nelly, it was a joy and privilege to officially welcome Father Ben and look forward to sharing in his personal journey of faith and of service.
Jean Mertzanakis
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