On Sunday, December 17, 2023 His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos, along with His Grace Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea and His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, ordained Rev. Father Emmanuel Aspiotis to the Holy Priesthood at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Belmont, CA. Clergy in attendance were: V. Rev. Archimandrite Amphilochios Gravalas; Rev. Father Peter Salmas; Rev. Father Jon Magoulias, Rev. Father Michael Kouremetis; Rev. Dr. Christopher Flesoras; Rev. Father Nicholas Metrakos; and Rev. Deacon Justin Bosl. Several of Father Emmanuel’s classmates from Holy Cross School of Theology also joined in prayer to witness his ordination to the priesthood.

Metropolitan Gerasimos shared with Father Emmanuel, “Now is the time to walk with courage, faith and vision as you embark on your ministry in the Holy Priesthood. You have studied, you have prayed, and you are now realizing the culmination of those efforts through the Grace of God. Each day is a new opportunity to emulate Christ through your words and deeds, and to share the Gospel beyond the boundaries of this church campus. This is where the real work of the priesthood begins.”

Father Emmanuel is a 2023 graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, MA) with a Master of Divinity degree; and a 2015 graduate of the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Father Emmanuel will serve the Holy Cross parish as the Assistant Priest.

Father Emmanuel and Presvytera Alyssa reside in Belmont, California. May God grant them all His abundant blessings!

AXIOS Father Emmanuel!

Photo Credit-Kostas Petrakos Photography.