The Metropolitan of Stagoi and Meteora ordained a monk of Israeli origin who embraced Orthodoxy after a long spiritual search.
On May 3, 2026, Monk Theoklitos – an Israeli by origin and the son of a rabbi – was ordained to the diaconate in Greece during a solemn Divine Liturgy in Kalambaka, near Meteora. This was reported by UOJ in Greece.
The ordination took place on Sunday, the feast of the Venerable Fathers of Meteora. The service was led by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, with Bishop Methodios of Knossos and Metropolitan Theoklitos of Stagoi and Meteora concelebrating. It was Metropolitan Theoklitos who performed the ordination of Monk Theoklitos, a monk of the Varlaam Monastery of Meteora. In his homily, the Metropolitan of Patras spoke about the selfless love of ascetics for God – a love that cannot be understood without living spiritual experience.
Metropolitan Theoklitos of Stagoi and Meteora also recounted the life story of the new cleric. Monk Theoklitos is an Israeli and the son of a rabbi, who himself was the father of nine children. In his search for truth, he came to believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, after which he received Orthodox baptism despite difficulties and persecution. He eventually found his spiritual home in the monasteries of the Meteora complex. The Church of Greece accepted him into its clergy.
As previously reported by the UOJ, a Greek monk had warned about internet speculation surrounding church services on Mount Athos. The Meteora monasteries are among the most famous Orthodox monastic complexes in Greece and are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Varlaam Monastery was founded in the 14th century and is one of the six active monasteries of the complex.
I’m not surprised that a Jewish rabbi’s son became a follower of Jesus, since twenty years ago, here in Brooklyn, Jews created a religious sect they called “Jews for Jesus.” These Jews claim to be the true zealots of Jesus, who, according to Christians, was the king of the Jews. It’s ironic. What can you say? I’ll stop here like a car without a driver.
Good for him.
There have been people from every nation around the world who’ve converted to every faith imaginable.
Including Orthodox Christianity ☦
Why is this important, why was this story published on Helleniscope?
Even though it may not rise as high to the journalistic principle of “news is when man bites dog”, it falls within the framework of conversions to Orthodoxy and thus we considered it important…