The Rev. Christopher Eid (SVOTS 2010) was named Dean of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Charleston, WV in 2014. He will assume the role in late July of 2015, when SVOTS alumnus The Very Rev. Olof Scott retires. Archpriest Olof has served at the St. George Cathedral for 39 years. The Cathedral is the episcopal home of The Right Rev. Thomas, auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Charleston, Oakland and the Mid-Atlantic.
A native of Syria, Fr. Christopher was raised in an Orthodox home among the clergy members of his family. He attended and served at the Bosra Horan Archdiocesan Chancery Church of St. George in Syria before moving to the United States. While working full-time after arriving in the U.S., Fr. Christopher also attended the City University of New York (CUNY), obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in International Criminal Investigation.
After completing his professional training, he established a career in executive protection security and investigation. However, his love for the Church compelled him leave his job; with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of blessed memory, he enrolled in seminary and completed his M.Div. degree in May of 2010.
After graduation, Fr. Christopher was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on September 8, 2011 and then to the Holy Priesthood on September 11, 2011.
Immediately following ordination, Fr. Christopher was given a temporary assignment to serve alongside Fr. Elias Bitar (SVOTS 1975) at St. George Orthodox Church in Little Falls, NJ, before moving to Houston, TX to serve at St. George Orthodox Church from December 2011 to December 2014.
Remembering his time at St. Vladimir's, Fr. Christopher noted that "because of my years of education at St. Vladimir's, I have been equipped to quench the spiritual thirst of those seeking Christ. Continuing on the same path that the M.Div. program encouraged us to follow, I am committed to working with all Orthodox Christian organizations in order to serve the future of Orthodoxy, whether they be children born into the faith or and those who will be coming home through mission work."
