A Rabbi’s Son Just Became an Orthodox Deacon at Meteora
Father Theoklitos, born in Israel and raised in a Jewish household as the son of a rabbi, was ordained an Orthodox deacon on May 3 at the Church of the Holy Meteoritic Fathers in Kalambaka, just below the cliffs of Meteora.
The ordination took place during the annual feast of the Holy Meteoritic Fathers, which celebrates the ascetic monks who shaped Meteora's spiritual identity. Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras presided over the Divine Liturgy, joined by Metropolitan Theoklitos of Stagoi and Meteora and Bishop Methodios of Knossos from the Archdiocese of Crete.
His journey from Judaism to Orthodox monasticism gave the day an added layer of meaning.
Father Theoklitos is a monk of the Holy Monastery of Varlaam, one of Meteora's most historic communities, perched on the towering rock pillars of Thessaly. His journey from Judaism to Orthodox monasticism gave the day an added layer of meaning, with church leaders saying his ordination connected Meteora's centuries-old spiritual tradition to a deeply personal story of faith.
Metropolitan Theoklitos of Stagoi addressed the newly ordained deacon directly, urging him to keep the flame of faith alive and to guard the humility that defines the Meteora monastic tradition. Metropolitan Chrysostomos used his sermon to reflect on the broader importance of monasticism as a guide for modern life.
The Monastery of Varlaam, where Father Theoklitos took his vows, dates back to the 14th century and remains one of the six active monasteries still operating at Meteora today. The site draws pilgrims and visitors from around the world, but its monastic life continues largely unchanged from its origins.
