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Episcopal Ordination of Archimandrite Robert Rabbat
Monday, 19 September 2011 10:14
16 September, 2011
Beiruit - On 16 September, in the church of St. John Chrysostom, in the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut, Archimandrite Robert Rabbat was ordained bishop during the Divine Liturgy led by Patriarch Gregorios III, together with Bishops Salim (Bustros) and Issam (Darwish). Also present were six other bishops from Lebanon and Syria, besides the new bishop.
Present at the ordination were the mother, brother and other relatives and friends of the new bishop, together with mothers and fathers general of religious orders.
In his sermon, Patriarch Gregorios III referred to the guidance given by St. Paul in his Epistle to Timothy, and to the Gospel-reading for the beginning of the ecclesial year in September, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor...” (Luke 4: 18 ff. Cf. Isaiah 61: 1 ff.) which may be seen as a programme of action in the Church and in the world, and especially for a worthy future with peace and reconciliation in Syria, Lebanon and Palestine.
After his ordination, Bishop Robert travelled to Australia for his enthronement as Bishop of Australia and New Zealand by his predecessor in post, Bishop Issam.
Notes by Patriarch Gregorios III
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The Spirit of Truth
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fill all things. Treasury of Blesings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Hymn from the Vespers of Pentecost
Wisdom from the Church Fathers
| Let not us who would be Christians expect anything else than to be crucified....for to be Christian is to be crucified in this time and in any time since Christ came for the first time. His life is the example and warning to us all. We must be crucified personally,mystically; for trough crucifixion is the only path to resurrection, if we would rise with Christ, we must be humbled with him even to the ultimate humiliation, being devoured and spit forth by the uncomprehending world.... We must be crucified outwardly in the eyes of the world, for Christ's kingdom is not of this world and world cannot bear it, even a single representative, even for the single moment. Fr Seraphim Rose |