BOSTON – The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate reinstated Deacon Michael Diamond after the recommendation of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. The reinstatement was decided at January’s Synodic meeting. 

Deacon Michael Diamond served then-Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey faithfully for more a decade. It is reminded here that Evangelos was removed from the Metropolis of New Jersey and was elected Metropolitan of Sardes in Asia Minor by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Thursday October 8, 2020.

Despite Deacon Diamond’s capable and respectful service, Metropolitan Evangelos inexplicably tuned on him to the point that he achieved the Deacon’s defrocking and his removal from the ministry of the Church.   

A brighter future emerged after Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Deacon Michael Diamond and his wife, deaconess Adamantia, to Archdiocesan headquarters. Dn. Michael received the Archbishop’s blessing when the later announced to him the recent decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to grant the petition of the Holy Eparchial Synod in America to reinstate him to the Holy Order of the Diaconate. Dn. Michael Diamond will serve in the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey until his forthcoming assignment to the Holy Metropolis of Denver.

In a telephone conversation with The National Herald, Deacon Michael didn’t want to make any reference at all to Metropolitan Evangelos about what had transpired five years ago, except to say that “I always had hope in God and faith in the Ecumenical Patriarchate that someday I would be reinstated.”  

Deacon Michael at his first Liturgy at the St. Nicholas parish in Wyckoff, New Jersey after his reinstatement by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Shown are his wife Adamantia and his daughter Vasiliki. (Photo provide by Deacon Michael Diamond)

Deacon Michael also said, “glory be to God for He is a good and Loving God who never gives us more than we can bear in life. God hears all of our prayers and answers them when we have faith and perseverance. I am grateful to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the members of the Holy and Sacred Synod in Constantinople for granting the request of His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros and the Holy Eparchial Synod of America to have me reinstated into the Holy Diaconate. I cannot express the joy that I feel in my heart to once again vest in the Holy Robes of the clergy. We as clergy should never take our responsibility for granted because it is a gift from God and it is the Holy Spirit which fulfills that which is lacking in all of us.”

He added that, “I am blessed to once again be called Deacon because I have tried with my whole heart to serve Christ and His Church from childhood. I am thankful that our Ecumenical Patriarch, who is a dynamic leader and a compassionate father, granted me the opportunity to return to the Church as a member of the clergy. Words of thanks are also necessary to our Archbishop who reminds me of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel who found me broken and left without anything but he had compassion and brought me to the inn which is the Church.”

Speaking about Archbishop Elpidophoros he also said that “our Archbishop is a doer and a man of his word. He promised me and my wife Adamantia that he would do everything he can to help us return into the clergy and sure enough he did. He is true to the name that he bears ‘Elpidophoros’ the bearer of hope. We are truly blessed to have such a charismatic and faithful spiritual father who loves his clergy and looks out for their best. The Archdiocese is in good hands with His Eminence leading us and we will see many more positive changes in the future. Archbishop Elpidophoros will forever hold a special place in my heart because he saved me and my family and he is responsible for my dream to serve the Church as a member of the clergy to once again be alive. I promise him that I will fulfill his expectations of me and work to be the best clergyman possible. I also wish to thank His Eminence, Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver who has embraced me and asked to bring me into his holy Metropolis as a member of the clergy. I pray that the Lord will make me worthy to reach the next step and be ordained a priest of our Holy Archdiocese of America. This would be my dream come true which began over forty years ago. I am also grateful to my Diakonissa Adamantia for standing with me throughout these difficult years. She and our daughter Vasiliki have remained faithful to the Church and have stood at my side and helped me reach this great and rich blessing from God once again. I also thank all of the clergy and faithful who have prayed for us and helped us throughout the years.”