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Ordination of a new priest for the Western Archdiocese

By the grace of God, on Sunday, February 27, 2022, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan celebrated Holy Divine Liturgy at St. Peter Church, San Dimas, assisted by clergy and deacons of the Western Archdiocese. During the Divine Liturgy, the Archbishop ordained Rev. Deacon Sameer Hanna as a priest for the Archdiocese of the Western United States of America. His Eminence has given him the fatherly name (Rev. Fr. Zmargdos Hanna). His Eminence explained some of the priest's mission in his sermon, saying: "… 1. The priest's first mission is meditation, i.e., prayer. The priest who filled with power by praying, his inner peace is renewed, and God gives him wisdom and aid. He becomes a blessing for many. Like Samuel, the priest once said: "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you" (1. Sam1.1:23).

Like Moses, who interceded in his people many times, the priest's pleasure to stand between God and the people in the Divine Liturgy. By holding his hands, raising the repentance of his people to heaven, warmly intercession for the forgiveness of sins, and grabbing the divine grace on every human being. St. Paul, the Apostle, said: "If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all." (Phi. 2:17). The priest's prayer is the most essential element in his ministry, as our teacher St. Paul the Apostle has always done: "We do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Col. 1:9-10), "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers" (1 Thes. 1:2). Through prayer, the priest's heart is filled with the spirit of fatherhood and wisdom-filled with care, and his eyes open to the secrets of the Divine Word, and the Word of God runs over his mouth.…

2. Priest, father, and shepherd: He is a father who gives birth to souls to Christ and who takes care of them with sincerity and love. Giving birth to souls to Christ is not easy, but it is similar to the labor of the pregnant woman as she gives birth. The priest has to make a tremendous effort in prayer, love, and teaching so that the image of Christ appears in those he serves. This is what our teacher St. Paul the Apostle expressed when he addressed the Galatians: "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you" (Gal. 4:19)…

3. Priest as a spiritual educator, teacher: "For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 2:7). This is God's thought on the priest. So he has to understand the Gospel, live the Gospel, and teach the Gospel.
The priest is the servant of mysteries (sacraments) and the teacher of the Gospel. He brings out of his treasures the new and the old, and he continually tries to convey the message of salvation properly to every human being to save a people (1 Cor. 9:22).
The priest is the steward of God who strives to fulfill what Christ said about the faithful and wise steward (Luke 12:42-44). That his master sets him over his servants to give them their food in time, blessed is that steward who, if his master comes, finds him doing so, will reward him by setting him on all his money.

What a beautiful phrase that one of the fathers said: "Rivers of living water descend from the arms of the Holy Trinity to irrigate the world through the priest."…His Eminence extended his blessings to the newly ordained priest.

We also extend our heartfelt blessing and congratulations to Rev. Fr. Zmargdos and his family.

Following the ordination, a Banquet Dinner was held at Eden Garden Restaurant to celebrate the blessed and joyous occasion. We thank His Eminence, the Very Rev. and Rev. Fathers who attended the spiritual event, and all the faithful from the various churches.