By God’s grace, there were fifteen ordinations among St Vladimir’s Seminary alumni, staff, and students, to the holy episcopate, the priesthood, the diaconate, and to monastic orders during the latter half of 2023. Giving glory to God, we would like to announce the recipients of Holy Orders and elevations among our alumni and students here.
HOLY EPISCOPATE
His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim (Preston) (M.Div. '07)
Jurisdiction: Albanian Archdiocese, Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Elevation: Ordained to the Holy Episcopate on September 16, 2023, by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, at Saint George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral in South Boston, MA.
Current Ministry: Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese
His Grace, Bishop Benedict (Churchill) (former SVS Press Editor)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Elevation: Ordained to the Holy Episcopate on December 2, 2023, by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Boston, MA.
Current Ministry: Bishop of Hartford and New England
HOLY PRIESTHOOD
Priest Alexander Gratsias (M.Div. '21)
Jurisdiction: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained June 18, 2023, by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Jackson Heights, NY.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained July 2, 2023, by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine, New York, NY.
Photo credit: Subdeacon Steve Chobanian
Priest Dr Mark Therrien (Th.M. ‘24)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained January 30, 2023, by His Eminence, the Most Reverend Daniel, Archbishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest at Three Hierarchs Chapel, Yonkers, NY.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained July 22, 2023, by His Eminence, the Most Reverend Daniel, Archbishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago, IL.
Current Ministry: Rector, St Nicholas Orthodox Church, Mentor, OH
Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in Classics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.T.S. from the University of Notre Dame; Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame in Theology (specialization in Greek patristics); taught theology as a professor at the University of St Mary of the Lake.
Priest Dr Geevarghese (Renish) Abraham (Th.M. ‘24, M.Div. ‘24)
Jurisdiction: Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained August 20, 2022, by His Eminence, Met. Dr Youhanon Mar Demetrios, Metropolitan of Delhi, at Sts Peter and Paul’s Orthodox Church, Parumala, Kerala, India.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained July 29, 2023, by His Eminence, Met. Dr Youhanon Mar Demetrios, Metropolitan of Delhi, at St John’s Orthodox Church in Chempanmukham, Ranni, India.
Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in English language and literature from Catholicate College, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India; M.A. in English literature and Ph.D. in English studies from the University of Delhi; Assistant professor of English at St Stephen's College, University of Delhi (on sabbatical).
Priest Spyridon Ickes (M.Div. ‘24)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (Romanian Episcopate, OCA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained July 2, 2023, by His Grace, Bishop Andrei of Cleveland at Sts Peter and Paul Church, Dearborn Heights, MI.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained October 8, 2023, by His Grace, Bishop Andrei of Cleveland at Three Hierarchs Chapel, Yonkers, NY.
Current Ministry: Student parish assignment at Saint Dimitrie Romanian Orthodox Church in Easton, CT
Educational and Professional Background: B.S. in Criminal Justice from Capella University, Minneapolis, MN; completed a 6-year police officer career in Ohio prior to seminary.
Priest Njegos Perkovic (M.A. ‘21)
Jurisdiction: Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese of Eastern America
Holy Diaconate: Ordained October 14, 2023, by His Grace, Bishop Irinej of Eastern America at St Sava Cathedral in Cleveland, OH.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained October 15, 2023, by His Grace, Bishop Irinej of Eastern America at the Monastery of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel, New Marcha, in Richfield, OH.
Current Ministry: Archivist of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Educational and Professional Background: Saint Peter of Dabar-Bosnia Theological Seminary High School (2008-2013) in Foca, Bosnia & Herzegovina; Saint Sava School of Theology, Bachelor of Divinity (2013-2017) in Libertyville, Illinois.
Priest Philip Ritchey (M.Div. ‘20)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained November 5, 2022, by His Grace, Bishop Gerasim, Auxiliary to the Diocese of the South (OCA) at St Symeon Orthodox Church in Birmingham, AL.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained October 22, 2023, by His Eminence, Archbishop Alexander of Dallas, the South, and the Bulgarian Diocese at St Symeon Orthodox Church in Birmingham, AL.
Current Ministry: Assistant Priest at St Symeon Orthodox Church in Birmingham, AL; Project lead for OCA's Department of Liturgical Music and Translations.
Educational and Professional Background: B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL; Forensic Scientist in the Drug Chemistry discipline of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
Priest Silouan Parchert (M.Div. ‘25)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained July 4, 2020, by His Eminence, Archbishop Alexander at The Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in Cañones, NM.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained December 25, 2023, by His Grace, Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth, Auxiliary to the Diocese of the South at All Saints of North America Orthodox Church in Albuquerque, NM.
Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in Electrical Engineering and M.A. in Education. Work experience as an engineer, teaching middle and high school math, and working in special education.
HOLY DIACONATE
Deacon John (Masatoshi) Shoji (M.Div. ‘07)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in Japan
Holy Diaconate: Ordained July 9, 2023, by His Eminence, Archbishop Seraphim (Tsujie) of Sendai and Vicar of the Archdiocese of Tokyo (now Metropolitan of All Japan).
Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in Sociology; teaching license for junior and high school; longtime work experience as a tour agent for the Balkan region both in Japan and Croatia.
Deacon Peter (Jared) Ries (M.Div. ‘24)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained September 13, 2023, by His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest at Three Hierarchs Chapel, Yonkers, NY.
Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in Psychology, Cleveland State University; several years of work in mental health case management.
Deacon Elias (Elio) Nicolas (M.A. ‘19)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained December 4, 2023, by His Eminence, Metropolitan Saba at Virgin Mary Church in Yonkers, New York.
Current Ministry: Deacon Elias works at the Archdiocese headquarters with His Eminence in Englewood, New Jersey.
Educational and Professional Background: B.A. Religious Studies, Hellenic College Holy Cross; M.A. in Theological Studies, St Vladimir’s Seminary; M.S. Management Information Systems, Security and Network Management, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Deacon Giorgi Lomsadze (M.Div. ‘24)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained December 13, 2023, by His Grace, Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth, Auxiliary to the Diocese of the South, at Three Hierarchs Chapel, Yonkers, NY.
Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in Philology, Tbilisi State University; M.A. in Medieval Studies, Ilia State University, Republic of Georgia.
Deacon Alexander Nelson (M.Div. ‘25)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained December 25, 2023, by His Eminence, Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey at the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection in New York, NY.
Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in Theology from Fordham University; work experience as Building Manager/ Superintendent in Manhattan (Labor Union 32BJ).
MONASTIC ORDERS
Dayroyo Abrohom Jacob (M.Div '19)
Jurisdiction: Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
Elevation: Tonsured to the monastic order on September 9, 2023, by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, at St Ephrem the Syrian Monastery in Maarat Saidnaya, Syria.
ELEVATIONS
The Very Rev. David Alexander (Th.M. ‘11)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Elevation: Elevated to the rank and dignity of Archpriest on June 4, 2023, by Bishop John, Auxiliary of the Diocese of Worcester and New England at St Patrick Orthodox Church in Bealeton, Virginia.
The Very Rev. Alessandro Margheritino (M.Div. ‘14, D.Min. in progress)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Elevation: Elevated to the rank and dignity of Archpriest on August 27, 2023, by His Eminence, Metropolitan Tikhon at All Saints of America Church in Alexandria, VA.
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Elevation: Elevated to the rank and dignity of Archpriest on September 28, 2023, by His Eminence, Metropolitan Saba at Three Hierarchs Chapel in Yonkers, NY.
