Xander and Max Become Epsaltos Deacons

This is Xander and Max getting ready to be ordained Deacons in the Coptic Orthodox Church. It is a big deal and only a Bishop can do it. We were fortunate to have His Grace Bishop Anba Bola in town so we arranged to have the boys ordained. This is preferably done when the kids are 6-7 years old but we couldn't wait.

They both were quite interested in "becoming one of the boys in church with the white robes...."

You can watch the actual ordination on YouTube here. So what happens is this; Bishop Anba Bola says "Alexander/Maximus Epsaltos of St. Mark's Church." Then His Grace signs with the cross on their head three times saying on the first sign "Blessed is the Holy Father....(Khen Efran...) on the second sign "Blessed is His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ and then the Third Sign "Blessed is the Holy Spirit the Paraclete.

The Tunias (tunics) are presented which he signs three times and then they are dressed by the priests or elder deacons.

Abouna Antonios and Sherif Sidhom dress Xander and Max in their tunias.

Xander was really excited! This is the same face he made when we took pictures of him with Disney characters (post to come later). This is his "happy but nervous" face.

I think he thought he was being made a priest!

Even Max was shockingly comfortable and happy. When I asked the boys if they wanted to become deacons they said "yes!" of course. When we first talked about it with Xander's Godfather Mark Hanna he thought it was a good idea but looked at me and said "you are going to do it with them." I told him that I doubted it and he told me I was being a hypocrite. I suppose in many ways I had always wished I had been a deacon but doing it at even 14 made more sense to me then 41. I remained unsure as to whether I would actually go through with it. This is until I reminded the boys before the big day what they were going to do tomorrow. "Are you ready to become a deacon tomorrow?!" Xander of course gave me a big smile, his eyes lit up with a resounding "YES!" Then I looked to Max - "how about you Max?" He sat quietly thinking..."No." he said. NO!?!? whaddya mean no? you just said yes the other day. Was this what I had to look forward to - a son who renegs on the deal? An Indian giver? a quitter? So I told him "you know, you get to take communion first - before all of the other kids and people at church...." I thought I had him.... "No....daddy....I want to take communion with you." he told me. It was at this point that I gave in to myself and my fears of being a older non experienced deacon. "What about if Daddy does it with you?" I asked him. It was then, and only then that little Max's face lit up with a big smile like his brother moments earlier with a big "YES!"

The deal was done.