Ordination of Full Deacons at St. Matthew the Hermit Parish, Sterling Heights, Michigan On Friday, December 19, 2025, His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. Matthew the Hermit Syriac Orthodox Church. He was assisted by the parish priest, Fr. Daniel Al-Kass, together with Fr. Samer Yohannan and Fr. Imad Al-Banna, and in the presence of Fr. Moussa Tawfiq from the sister Coptic Orthodox Church.
During the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence ordained the Subdeacons Behnam Mirza and Fawzi Al-Khoury to the rank of Full Deacon. The sacred rite was carried out in an atmosphere of prayer, reverence, and thanksgiving, as the Church rejoiced in the elevation of two of her sons to this holy ministry of service at the Word and the Altar.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the newly ordained full deacons addressed the faithful, offering thanks to Almighty God, to His Eminence the Archbishop, to the parish priest, and to all those present. They spoke with humility and gratitude about the greatness and responsibility of the diaconal ministry, expressing their commitment to serve the Church faithfully, according to the Gospel and the sacred tradition entrusted to them.
