On Thursday 8th February 2024, a dinner was held in honour of the respected chanter, Mr Pavlos Charalambous, at the hall of St Mary’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Wood Green. His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Claudoupolis – following the traditional blessing and cutting of the Vasilopita – conveyed the blessings and paternal love of His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, to Mr Pavlos and to the entire 170 parishioners attending the joyous and momentous event.
The event was an opportunity, as Bishop Iakovos highlighted within his homily, for the community to honour and thank Mr Pavlos for his example of dedication, of faithfulness to the Church, of dignity and of sacrifice.
His Grace specifically stated: “We often take people’s sacrifices, service and faithfulness for granted, but this evening proves that within the life of the Church, God truly reveals and acknowledges those who serve Him with humility.
“On behalf of all our community and the wider Archdiocese, we thank you for your many years of service, not only here at St Barnabas and the Cathedral of the Dormition, but also for your many years at St Andrew’s in Kentish Town. I truly pray that we find and encourage our younger generation to take your example, for our local Church must cultivate vocations not only to the holy priesthood but also to sing, to read, to serve and learn to live out the beauty and richness of our liturgical tradition.
“Let us all take some responsibility and encourage our children, our grandchildren, the pupils of our Greek schools, to reach out to the Church, for Christ our Lord and Saviour to guide them throughout each stage of their lives, in His love and protection.”
The event was yet another expression of the unity, the community spirit and the Christian fellowship cultivated at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Wood Green, through the continuous work and ministries initiated by His Grace Bishop Iakovos, the clergy, the committee members and the dedicated faithful.