On Sunday, December 20th, 2015, the Greek-Catholic parish of Our Lady of Damascus, with praise and thanksgiving to the Almighty God, joyfully witnessed the ordination of sub-deacon Prof. Martin Zammit to the sacred order of deacon.
Mons. Dimitrios Salachas, Bishop of Gratianopolis and Apostolic Exarch of the Greek Byzantine Church imposed his hands and invoked the Holy Spirit on the ordinand in the presence of Mons. Paul Cremona, Archbishop Emeritus. The divine liturgy was con-celebrated by Bishop Salachas, Archimandrite George Mifsud Montanaro, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Damascus, Fr Shafiq Abou Zayd, Parish Priest of the Melkite Greek-Catholic parish of St Barnabas, Pimlico, London, Fr Nicholas Cachia, and Fr Anton Farrugia O.F.M. 
Fr Arthur Vella SJ, Fr Mario Attard O.F.M. Cap. and Fr Bula as-Suryani, Parish Priest of the Coptic Orthodox community in Malta, as well as a number of parishioners, colleagues and friends were also present for the ordination.
This is an historic moment for the Greek-Catholic Church in Malta as this is the first time that it enjoys the services of a deacon. Rev. Deacon Martin Zammit, who has been an active member of the Greek parish in Malta for the past forty-five years, is married to Gertrude and is the father of Stefan and Christine, and the grandfather of Laura and Paul. The deacon performs a very active role during the divine liturgy and other services, acting as a link between the celebrating priest, and bishop, and the lay congregation. The deacon’s duties include:
Preaching the Gospel of Christ (with the blessing of the presiding priest or bishop)- Assisting in the celebration of the all of the Holy Mysteries of the Church
- Leading the people in the collective prayers (with the blessing of the presiding priest or bishop)
- Reading from the Scriptures during the divine services (with the blessing of the presiding priest or bishop)
- Keeping the decorum of the public worship, including calling people to attention at appropriate times
- Any tasks of the subdeacon or reader
- Administrating the charitable and/or educational work of the Diocese, Deanery/Vicariate or Parish
- Other tasks related to Church life, with the blessing and direction of his priest or bishop.
May the Almighty God and Our Lady of Damascus assist Rev. Deacon Martin in his new ecclesiastical responsibilities.
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- Homily by Bishop D. Salachas
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