On Wednesday, 21st January 2026, on the Feast of Saint Maximos the Confessor, His Grace Bishop Maximos of Melitene celebrated his Name Day. His Grace also presided at the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral, during which he ordained Mr Adam Georgiou to the Holy Diaconate.
Amrick Singh Ubhi, Director of Civic Engagement and Partnerships, Nishkam Group, was privileged to attend The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Apostolos Andreas, located in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, to be an honoured guest to witness the ordination of Adam Georgiou to the Holy Diaconate, a sacred milestone in his lifelong journey of faith and service.
The ordination took place during the Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Grace Bishop Maximos of Melitene, a beloved hierarch whose tireless pastoral ministry continues to strengthen Orthodox communities across the United Kingdom. Bishop Maximos, known for his deep commitment to spiritual formation and community outreach, presided over the sacred service with reverence and grace.
The celebration was especially poignant, as it coincided with the Feast of Saint Maximos the Confessor, one of the great theologians and defenders of Orthodox faith, commemorated in the Byzantine liturgical calendar on January 21. Saint Maximos is remembered for his profound theological witness and steadfast confession of Christ, virtues that the newly ordained Deacon Adam Georgiou aspires to emulate in his ministry.
Following the divine worship, the parishioners and clergy gathered for a festive community lunch that brought together families, friends, and faithful from across the cathedral’s vibrant congregation. The joyful fellowship underscored the shared commitment to supporting the cathedral’s ongoing mission of worship, service, and outreach.
After the event, Amrick Singh commented, “It was an honour to witness the ordination of Adam today. It was a pleasure to see his family and friends come together and recognise his dedication to service. I hope he continues to serve with the same values of compassion, humility, and a genuine love for all. This ordination enriches not only the Greek Orthodox community but the wider spiritual life of Birmingham.”
Amrick Singh was invited to the auspicious ceremony by Petro Nicolaides, long-standing parish council member and Chair of the Greek Orthodox School in Birmingham. Petro added, “Adam’s commitment to Christ and to our community inspires us all. We are proud to witness his ordination on such a meaningful feast day, surrounded by family and friends. Bishop Maximos’ presence and leadership have been a blessing to this cathedral and beyond. We wish him every success and pray from Adam and his family”.
The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Apostolos Andreas continues to serve as a central place of worship and cultural heritage for Orthodox Christians throughout the Midlands, offering regular liturgies, educational programs, and opportunities for spiritual growth and community engagement. The building was formerly a Catholic Apostolic church. It was designed in 1873 by J A Chatwin, who worked on many of Birmingham’s churches, including St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham.
Petro took Amrick Singh on a site tour of the Cathedral, the School, and developments in progress that will be coming online in years ahead to serve the diverse communities of Birmingham. Amrick Singh was amazed at what the Greek community is doing in Birmingham. The old Cathedral, the Greek School, the plans for future development were inspiring and would enrich the fabric of society. He congratulated them all and encouraged them to take a long-term perspective on regeneration of the area and make best use of the land it wished to develop.
Mr Nicolaides was thrilled to welcome and introduce Amrick Singh to the congregation and leaders present at the service. “It has been an honour to have my friend Amrick Singh, from the Nishkam Group and Deputy Lieutenant here to today. I think what Nishkam do is inspiring and I hope other communities can emulate that and we should all look to see how we can do more for our own communities and the broader society we live in. I had the pleasure to meet the Honourable Bhai Sahib, Mohinder Singh OBE KSG earlier this week during a visit to the Nishkam Campus and was in awe of the great man. I can see where the inspiration and visionary leadership comes from.”
“It was also nice to invite Bhai Sahib Ji to the cathedral in the near future for a meeting with His Grace, the Bishop, who had visited the Gurudwara and Nishkam Centre in 2022 but unfortunately Bhai Sahib Ji had to go on an overseas trip.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Nishkam Civic Association works at the intersection of faith, civic responsibility, and social cohesion, supporting dialogue between communities and public institutions.
- Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Apostolos Andreas, 8 Arthur Place, Summer Hill Terrace, Birmingham B1 3DA, United Kingdom,
- Email: gocbirmingham@gmail.com
- Facebook: Greek Orthodox Cathedral Birmingham
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