Ordinations

Here are some pictures of the ordination service, which had the main service in Sinhalese, the sermon spoken in Tamil and then translated in Sinhalese (alternating from the Tamil speaker to the Sinhalese translator) and a blessing in English from a visiting missionary Father (from the UK).

The top photo shows the blessing of one of the newly ordained, and the others remain waiting.

Note in the other photos the indigenous elements native to Sri Lanka, including the banners and what the female altar assistants are wearing. This is part of the effort of the church to be culturally relevant and to shed the association with colonialization.

This was an important ceremony, so the drummers in particular was a special feature.

The foot washing was another noteworthy element, the bishop washed the feet of the newly ordained and here the newly ordained are washing the feet of a family members (most of the recipients were parents).