It has been a busy and blessed summer! Since the end of the 2018-2019 Academic Year in May to the beginning of the 2019 Fall Semester, eight new priests have been added to the ranks of our student body and alumni fellowship, as well as three new deacons. More seminarians and alumni are scheduled to be ordained later this fall and winter, God-willing.
We keep them all in prayer as they continue in their ministries. Axios!
HOLY PRIESTHOOD
Priest Stefan Djoric (M.A., ’18; Th.M., ‘19)
Jurisdiction: Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 23DEC18 by the hand of His Grace Bishop Irinej at Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Ellwood City, PA
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 2JUNE19 by the hand of His Grace Bishop Irinej at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in Steubenville, OH
Current Ministry: Assigned as parish priest of Holy Resurrection Church, Steubenville, OH.
Educational and professional background: B.A. studies in Theology from the University of Belgrade
Priest Andrew (Narek) Garabedian (M.Div., ‘16)
Jurisdiction: Eastern Diocese of America of the Armenian Church
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 23JAN06 by the hand of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat (Galstyan) at St. Vartan Armenian Church, Vancouver, British Columbia
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 28&29JUNE19 by the hand of His Grace Bishop Daniel (Findikyan) at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, Chicago, IL
Current Ministry: Assigned as pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, Chicago
Educational and professional background: B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver, British Columbia; Assistant youth and Christian Education director in Montreal, Quebec for the Armenian Diocese of Canada; In addition to St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Fr. Andrew is a graduate of St James’ Armenian Seminary, Jerusalem (2013) and St. Nersess Armenian Theological Seminary, Armonk, NY (2016)
Priest Lavrentia (Lawrence) Soper (M.Div., ‘19)
Jurisdiction: Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America
Holy Diaconate: Ordained in SEPT 2015 by His Grace, Bishop Mitrophan
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 7JULY19 by the hand of His Grace, Bishop Irinej at St. John the Baptist Serbian Orthodox Church, Patterson, NJ
Current ministry: Assigned as priest at St. John the Baptist Serbian Orthodox Church, Patterson, NJ
Educational and professional background: Former house manager for drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation center, the Interval Brotherhood Home in Akron, Ohio, OH; B.S. in General Studies from Charter Oak State College, New Britain, CT; Associate of Arts from Kent State University, Kent, OH
Priest Simon Menya (M.Div., ‘18)
Jurisdiction: Patriarchate of Alexandria, Diocese of Uganda
Holy Diaconate: Ordained by His Eminence, the Most Reverend Jonah (Lwanga), Metropolitan of Kampala and all Uganda, in St. Basil Orthodox Church, Gulu, Northern Uganda, 13AUG17
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 31JULY19 by the hand of His Grace, Bishop Silvester at St. Lavrentios Orthodox Cathedral, Gulu, Uganda
Current ministry: Assigned to assist at three parishes in Uganda: St. Lavrentios, Archangel Michael, and St. Basil
Educational and professional background: Former head teacher at Archangel Michael Orthodox Church, Lapainate village, Gulu District
Priest Christopher Dillon (3rd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of North America (AOCANA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 30SEPT18 by the hand of His Grace John, bishop of the Diocese of Worcester and New England (AOCANA), at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Danbury, CT
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 3AUG19 by the hand of His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph at St. Barnabas Orthodox Church, Costa Mesa, CA
Current ministry: Student parish assignment at St. Stephen the Protomartyr Antiochian Orthodox Church, South Plainfield, NJ
Educational and professional background: B.A., UC Davis, History; M.Ed., UC Santa Barbara; CA Teaching Credential in Social Science, St. Stephen's Certificate in Theology from the Antiochian House of Studies; taught High School and Middle School History for eleven years; attends St. Vladimir's with wife, Claire, and children, James, Alexander, Peter, and Isaiah
Priest David Winn (3rd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 23SEPT18 by the hand of His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, archbishop of New York and metropolitan of all North America (AOCANA, at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Brooklyn, NY
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 4AUG19 by the hand of His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph at St. Barnabas Orthodox Church, Costa Mesa, CA
Current ministry: Student parish assignment at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, Bridgeport, CT
Educational and professional background: B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Biola University; deputy sheriff in Orange County, CA
Priest David McCready (Non-degree track, completed 2019)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 25APRIL19 by His Grace John, Auxiliary of the Diocese of Worcester and New England (AOCANA), at St. George’s Orthodox Church, Lawrence, MA
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 11AUG19 by His Grace John, Auxiliary of the Diocese of Worcester and New England (AOCANA), at St. Columba Orthodox Church, Lafayette, CO
Current ministry: Assigned as pastor of St. Columba Orthodox Church, under the Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Archdiocese
Educational and Professional Background: Former Anglican priest; Holds a number of degrees, including a Ph.D. from Trinity College, Dublin
Priest Symeon Halsell (3rd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 8JULY18 by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, archbishop of New York and metropolitan of all North America (AOCANA), at the Antiochian Diocese of the West 2018 Parish Life Conference in Portland, OR.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 11AUG19 by the hand of His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph at St. Peter the Apostle Antiochian Orthodox Church, Pomona, CA
Current ministry: Student parish assignment at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, Danbury, CT
Educational and professional background: B.A. in Sociology from California State University of Los Angeles; worked as supervisor for UPS for seven years and as Facilities Manager for his home parish for four years; served the Church before coming to seminary as an Orthodox middle-school teacher on Sundays, an altar server, and as an adult catechist to inquirers and catechumens
HOLY DIACONATE
Deacon Charalambos (Charles) Youngblood (2nd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 7JULY19 by His Grace, Bishop Basil at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, Wichita, KS
Current ministry: Student parish assignment at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Brooklyn, NY
Educational and professional background: Worked as a police detective with the City of Waco Police Department prior to enrolling at seminary; Active and reserve service in the United States Navy for the past sixteen years; B.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University
Deacon Armen Terjimanian (3rd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program)
Jurisdiction: Eastern Diocese of America of the Armenian Church
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 14JULY19 by His Grace Bishop Daniel (Findikyan), primate of the Eastern Diocese, at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, MI
Current ministry: Completing a Summer CPE internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA
Educational and professional background: B.A. in Film & Video Studies and Political Science from the University of Michigan; M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University; worked as a Sports Online Producer at USA TODAY in McLean, VA, for five years and as a Web Content Producer for Georgetown University in Washington, DC, for four years. Served as volunteer for Birthright Armenia; worked part-time at the Eastern Diocese as a communications consultant; served as central council member of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA).
Deacon Dorde Tomic (M.A., ’19)
Jurisdiction: Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 18AUG19 by the hand of His Grace Bishop Irinej at St. Eleftherios Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY
Current Ministry: Awaiting assignment
Educational and professional background: B.A. in Divinity from St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology, Libertyville, IL
