It is an immense joy for me to let you all know that, with the blessing of our Metropolitan Joseph, our father Fillan has been ordained a deacon on the Sunday of the Holy Cross. It all happened with me in hospital and unable to attend his ordination, but that almost increased my joy, because I’ve learnt by now that temptation only comes to oppose something of great spiritual importance.
As our Monastery grows, I shall definitely need more help in the Altar, especially as we are now starting a new chapter of our monastic life on Iona. It is obvious that in time, we shall end up with two communities and two Holy Altars – one on Mull, the other on Iona. Fr Fillan’s ordination as a deacon is a blessed step in the right direction, both for him and for our Monastery.
I attach a few photographs so you may share in our joy. The ordination took place in the Aberdeen parish, where Bishop Ignatii was visiting from Romania. I had asked Metropolitan Joseph to allow the ordination to take place as soon as possible, so His Eminence blessed that Bishop Ignatii might perform the ordination during his visit for the Aberdeen parish Feast Day.
