Metr. Saba Celebrates Triple Milestone at Maryland Parish

HUNT VALLEY, MD — Nativity of the Theotokos Church in Hunt Valley celebrated three milestones over the weekend of September 26–27: the dedication of its newly completed St. Paisios Education and Cultural Building, the tenth anniversary of Archpriest Damaskinos Issa as pastor, and the ordination of a new deacon.

Metr. Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America presided over the celebrations, joined by Bp. Thomas. Following Great Vespers on Saturday evening, the hierarchs blessed the new building, which includes classrooms and gathering spaces intended to support the parish’s ministries to children and youth, as well as its broader educational and cultural programs.

A banquet followed the dedication, bringing together clergy and faithful to mark the completion of the building and Fr. Damaskinos’ decade of pastoral ministry at the parish. Metr. Saba emphasized that the growth of a parish carries a corresponding responsibility for spiritual formation, particularly noting the role of parents in forming children in the faith.

During the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, Metr. Saba ordained Derek Ng to the holy diaconate, giving him the name John. Dn. John will serve at Nativity of the Theotokos Church. He recently earned a master’s degree in theological studies from the Antiochian House of Studies and is a professor and Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife, Kristin, have a daughter, Moira.

The weekend concluded with a presentation by the parish’s children and youth, who shared songs, hymns, and rhymes they had learned during the Church School year.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Antiochian Widowed Clergy Wives Endowment surpassed $2 million.