Washington/London, May 22, 2024.
For many Orthodox parishes throughout the United States and around the world, the joy of the Resurrection of Christ was joined to the joy of the transition of the newly converted into the Holy Orthodox Church.
Social media was abuzz with news of the mass conversion of people in the Orthodox Christianity, especially on Lazarus Saturday and Holy Saturday. This means that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people this year celebrated Easter as Orthodox Christians for the first time in their lives.
Some parishioners reported 5-10 people baptized and/or anointed, some reported more than a dozen newly baptized Orthodox Christians, and in some cases several dozen people, sometimes entire families, received Holy Baptism together.
Below are just a few of the many joyful photos of converts posted on social media:
It is also reported that just recently in England, 43 people were immediately welcomed into the fold of the Orthodox Church.
On April 27, 2024, Lazarus Saturday, at the Greek Orthodox parish of the Twelve Apostles in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, north of London, Archbishop Nikita (Loulias; Patriarchate of Constantinople) of Thyatira and Great Britain received 43 people into Orthodoxy. He was assisted by Bishop Jacob of Claudiopolis, Vicar of the Archdiocese of Thyatira, and numerous members of the diocesan clergy. The newly baptized believers successfully completed the seventh part of the diocesan course "Know Orthodoxy" under the guidance of Archimandrite Niphont (Tsimalis), protosyncellus of the Archdiocese, which was held in zoom every week for 9 months.
36 adults and one infant were received into Orthodoxy through Holy Baptism and Chrismation, and a further six adults were received through Chrismation. The newly converted Orthodox Christians come from various countries and parts of the world, including the UK, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece, Africa, other Commonwealth and European countries, and Asia.
A total of one hundred people will be accepted into Orthodoxy as a result of the catechism course. Those who were not accepted on Lazarus Saturday will be accepted during Easter in different parishes of the Archdiocese of Thyatira and Great Britain. In just four and a half years, more than 260 people have converted to the Orthodox Church through the "Know Orthodoxy" program. After the sacraments. The new members of the Church with candles and Holy Baptism and Chrismation proceeded to the church to participate in the Divine Liturgy, during which they received Holy Communion for the first time in their lives.
Before the conclusion of the Liturgy, Archbishop Nikita elevated Father Nicodemus Angelis to the dignity of Protopresbyter in consideration of his fruitful pastoral labors. The hierarch also thanked the parish clergy, Protopresbyter Joseph Paliouras, acting rector, and Father Demetrios Melekis for their hospitality and assistance.
At the end of the Liturgy, Archbishop Nikita presented each of the newly converted Orthodox Christians with an icon of the Twelve Apostles as a prayerful remembrance of this momentous day. A lavish reception followed in honor of the newly baptized believers, their families and the entire community.
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