Brookline, MA – By the grace of God and with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, Dr. Grammenos Karanos, Assistant Professor of Byzantine Liturgical Music at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, was ordained to the holy diaconate by His Eminence Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis on July 26, 2018, during the feast of St. Paraskevi. On the evening before the feast, following the local church’s tradition, Metropolitan Barnabas introduced the candidate to the faithful members of his Metropolis during Vespers in St. Paraskevi Church in Xirokrini, Thessaloniki.
The ordination of Rev. Dr. Grammenos took place during the Divine Liturgy in St. Paraskevi Church in Menemeni, Thessaloniki. In his address to the Metropolitan, Rev.Dn. Grammenos expressed his deepest respect for the Mother Church of Constantinople and His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and his profound gratitude to Archbishop Demetrios for his spiritual inspiration and guidance, to His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston for his paternal love and support, to the ordaining Metropolitan Barnabas, and to his spiritual father, Rev. Dr. Peter Chamberas. He also thanked the previous and current Presidents of Hellenic College Holy Cross, Rev. Frs. Nicholas Triantafilou and Christopher Metropulos, his colleagues at Hellenic College Holy Cross, his mentors in Byzantine Music Professors, Gregorios Stathis and Photios Ketsetzis, his wife, Dr. Panagoula Diamanti-Karanou, and his family and friends.
In his response, Metropolitan Barnabas expressed his love and respect for Archbishop Demetrios and underlined the deep spiritual bonds between his Metropolis and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Metropolis of Boston in particular. He congratulated Rev. Dn. Grammenos for his blessed decision to enter holy orders and invoked the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ and the protection of St. Paraskevi upon his new ministry.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios was represented by Rev. Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos. Also present were Prof. Dimitra Koukoura, Rev. Dr. Chrysostom Nassis, and Prof. Emmanuel Giannopoulos of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Rev. Dr. Nektarios Paris of the University of Macedonia, Prof. Athanasios Antonopoulos of the University of Athens, Regional Vice Governor of Central Macedonia and Olympic gold medalist Voula Patoulidou, the Mayor of Ampelokipoi-Menemeni Lazaros Kyrizoglou, members of the Greek Parliament, representatives of the Greek army, many cantors from Thessaloniki, as well as several of Rev. Dn. Grammenos’ friends and students from the United States and Greece.
At the reception prepared by the Philoptochos Ladies of St. Paraskevi’s parish, Archon Hymnodist of the Great Church of Christ Emmanuel Daskalakis bestowed on the newly ordained Rev. Dn. Grammenos the St. Ioannis Koukouzelis Medal on behalf of the cantors of Thessaloniki.
We congratulate Rev. Dn. Grammenos on his ordination and pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will abundantly bless his ministry in the Church, as well as his family, his teaching at Hellenic College Holy Cross, and his chanting ministry.