Archpriest Paul Gassios tonsured to monastic rank
PERRYSVILLE, OH [MW Diocese Communications] — With the blessings of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon and His Eminence, Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh, Archpriest Paul Gassios professed monastic vows and was tonsured to the rank of riassaphor monk at Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery here on Monday October 20, 2014.
Pictured from left are Archpriest Paul Albert, Priest Steven Frase, Igumen Paul (Gassios), Archpriest Don A Freude, and Archpriest Daniel Rentel
Father Paul was nominated to fill the vacant See of Chicago and the Midwest by delegates to a special Diocesan Assembly convened at Archangel Michael Church, Broadview Heights, OH on Tuesday, October 7, 2015. [See related story here]. His name was forwarded to the Holy Synod of Bishops for canonical election.
As an infant, Father Paul was baptized “Apostolos” in honor of the Apostle Paul, who with the Apostle Peter is commemorated on June 29. With the blessing of the Abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Joseph [Morris], he was tonsured with the name “Paul” in honor of Saint Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople, who is commemorated on November 6. [Read the life of Saint Paul here.]
Father Paul has been involved with Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery since the mid-1990s. He lived there during the summer of 1999 and resided there again from 2005 to 2006. He continues to visit there six to eight each year for brief retreat, prayer, and confession. He has found his time there to be invaluable. He especially enjoyed the time he spent there making beeswax candles, a craft at which he admits he had “became quite good.”
At the conclusion of the Service of Monastic Tonsure, Father Paul expressed his appreciation for the kindness extended to him by both Metropolitan Tikhon and Metropolitan Savas.
