SaintElias.com -> The Clergy

Father Tibor

Under Construction--he's Father Deacon Tibor now--coming soon

Fr. Tibor was ordained by kheirothesia for Ministry in the Holy Subdiaconate of the Church by His Grace, Bishop CORNELIUS, Eparch of Toronto and Eastern Canada.

The kheirothesia ordinations to minor orders (such as the subdiaconate) take place outside of Altar in the middle of the Sanctuary at the Kathedra.

Kheirothesia to the minor orders takes place after the vesting of the bishop but before he washes his hands.

In the Orthodox Tradition of our Church, the Minor Orders (Subdeacon, Reader, Candlebearer) or the diaconate for that matter are not just a stepping stone onto being priests. Rather they are valid and very important ministries in and of themselves. And usually people ordained to these offices devote their lives to this service of God and the Church.

Just as Priests really find it necessary to have Deacons, so also Deacons and Protodeacons really appreciate subdeacons whose service makes for a smooth and prayerful celebration of the Liturgy.

Besides serving and singing at Church and keeping full time jobs, they are raising their lovely young family: Tobias and Sophia.

Tobias is a little Diak (Cantor in the making). He may be only 3 years old, but he can really belt out the Tropars (really!) His parents have been bringing him to Great Vespers, Matins, and Divine Liturgy since, since, well...since before he was born!

So He's been singing Psalm 103 for almost a year now, and the Canticle of St. Simeon too. He knows Boh Predvichnyj, the Tropars for Christmas, Theophany, and Pentecost, and of course, "Christ is Risen". He also sings the Our Father, Hail Mother of God, and the Trisagion.

His mom (Dr. Turi) claims, "I didn't even have to teach any of this to him, he just picked it up." Actually, I believe it since one day, Dr. Turi comes up to me, more than a little frustrated in the childcare disciplining department and complained that trying to punish Tobias by making him sit in the corner totally backfired one day when the toddler burst out chanting hymns!!! (What can you say to him after that?)

But lest you think that the Turis are raising some sort of Church-geek, Tobias also likes Mozart, who has been his favourite composer since he was 1. (sigh of relief!)

And it's not that the Turi kids (like any other kids) aren't sometimes more than a handful. But in Church everyone shares in the childcare of everyone's kids, so the parents get a chance to pray too! As Dr. Turi says, "We are grateful for the help of other people in watching over our active children. The family-friendliness of St. Elias is one of the many reasons we drive so far. We want our children to grow up learning the True Faith, in a truly Orthodox church. St. Elias is also very relaxed and unpretentious. People are there to pray, to praise God..."
Fr. Turi says, "The kids have learned all this simply by attending Divine Services - Vespers, Matins and Divine Liturgy. People think that Tobias isn't paying attention because he's always on the move, but he is. If the deacon hesitates during the Divine Liturgy, Tobias often pipes in! [yaw-zah! {sorry about the editorial interjection...}] He knows exactly what is coming up. We envy the kids - they will never have to struggle to learn the tones, or any other music. They are learning by osmosis, just by being there."

The Turis say that Tobias' music competency isn't that unusual at our church. "Most of the older kids at St. Elias know at least as much as Tobias does. This gives me great hope for the future of our church. This is such a part of the kids, that they will always carry this with them, throughout their lives, where ever they go."

Tobias, at the tender age of 3, is already able to sing the Tropars in a loud voice and actually on key! [talk about "from the mouths of children and of babes"]

Little Sophia is learning to venerate the Icons. She kisses them now, instead of licking them, so we're making progress. She has also learned to walk (a mixed blessing, church child-care-wise), but has the sweetest smile.

The Subdeacon and his young family live 3 cities away from our parish! It takes them a full 60 minutes of highway driving to get to Church, but they still make to almost every service.

Ukrainian version
Українська версія

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Fr. Roman Galadza
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