The Igoumenos of St Gregory of Sinai Monastery, Bishop Sergios of Portland (emeritus), and his Brothers, are glad to announce the ordination to the Diaconate of the Monastery’s Co-Founder, Schema-Monk Patrick (Doolan), on Saturday, November 7, and to the Priesthood on Sunday, November 8, the Feast of the Great-Martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki, by His Grace, Bishop Auxentios of Etna & Portland.   

The ordination to the Diaconate took place at St. Gregory Palamas Men’s Monastery in Etna, California, and to the Priesthood at St. Elizabeth the Grand Duchess of Russia Women’s Monastery in the same town.  A reception was given by St Elizabeth Monastery’s Abbess, Mother Elizabeth, and her Sisters, for the newly-ordained Hieromonk Patrick, attended by His Eminence, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna (Emeritus), His Grace, Bishop Auxentios of Etna & Portland, and His Grace, Bishop Sergios of Portland (Emeritus), Hieromonk Parthenios of St Gregory of Sinai Monastery, and laity who attend services at St Gregory of Sinai Monastery - John and Elizabeth Shenone and their children, and by Subdeacon James Kalbasky, from Camus, Washington, an old friend of St. Gregory’s.  

Additionally, Hieromonk Parthenios of St. Gregory’s Monastery was given the rank of Confessor by Bishop Auxentios.  Father Parthenios has charge of SS Peter & Paul Mission in Tucson, Arizona, in addition to his duties at St. Gregory of Sinai Monastery.  

Hierodeacon Moses, Oikonomos at St. Gregory of Sinai Monastery, served through the weekend of Father Patrick’s ordinations.  Hieromonk Patrick and Hierodeacon Moses compose St. Gregory of Sinai’s ikon workshop, together with Monk Theologos, who has charge of the workshop’s mosaic program.  

Hieromonk Patrick and Bishop Sergios established St Gregory of Sinai Monastery in Trinity County, California, with the blessing of the late Bishop Basil (Rodzianko), in 1983 when they were members of the OCA.  The Monastery later moved to Contra Costa County and finally, to its present location in Lake County, California.  

A reception will be held for Father Patrick at St. Gregory of Sinai Monastery on Sunday November 15, which will be attended by Father Patrick’s California friends who were unable to travel to Etna, as well as by Father Patrick’s mother and one of his brothers, Bill, coming in from Massachusetts.  The Monastery would like to thank everyone who joined it in prayer during the ordination weekend.  

Photos and a short article about the ordination can be found on the diocesan website at http://www.dep.church/news.html

+Bishop Sergios of Portland (Emeritus), Abbot of St Gregory of Sinai Monastery