On St Thomas’ Day members of the Eastern Archdeaconry gathered outside of Chania, Crete to witness and participate in the ordination of Tony Lane to the priesthood. St Thomas’, Kefalas, Crete is one of the youngest congregations in the Diocese in Europe. Tony Lane has been a driving force behind the emergence of this congregation which formally asked to become a congregation of the Church of England back in 2005. The congregation has grown steadily from a small group meeting once a month around Tony and Suzanne’s dining room table to a congregation that meets every Sunday with an average attendance of forty plus. A few years ago a chapel dedicated to St Thomas was built together with an adaptable worship area which provided space for the 121 people who gathered for the ordination.
Canon Malcolm Bradshaw, Area Dean, was the preacher. He has had a special role in establishing, strengthening and settling the congregation. Canon Bradshaw began his sermon by using an image from Greek family life that sees Greek families gathering from 130pm onwards on Sundays to join in a common meal that has all the signs of the Eucharist. This imagery is particularly apt as amongst the duties of a priest belong the duty to preside at the celebration of Holy Communion together with the ministry of reconciliation and blessing. Malcolm reminded Tony and Tuomas Mäkipää, a Finnish ordinand, not to lose hold of their humanity as they seek to be faithful to their calling as ministers of God’s word and sacrament. One particularly moving moment was when the hands of the newly ordained priests were anointed by the Bishop as he said, ‘May God, who anointed the Christ with the Holy Spirit at his baptism, anoint and empower you to reconcile and bless his people.’
Bishop David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop presided at the ordination, the Revd Frances Hiller, the Bishop’s Chaplain, was the deacon and Christine Saccali, Reader in the Greater Athens Chaplaincy was the Bishop’s chaplain on this occasion. Other members of the Eastern Archdeaconry present were the Revd Canon Ian Sherwood (Chaplain of Christ Church, Istanbul) and Daphne and John Reece. Ms. Reece is one of Athens’ archdeaconry delegates.
The following day, Sunday 4 July, the Revd Tony Lane presided for the first time at the celebration of the Eucharist as a priest in the Church of God.
The congregation will soon be advertising for a priest to help the congregation continue to develop its ministry on Crete.
The Venerable Patrick Curran
