Clergy, including St. Vladimir's delegation, pose for group shot at Sdn. Anoop's ordination (Photos: Gina Joshua). On a mid–March Saturday a few days before the official start of spring, His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, ordained third–year M.Div. student Anoop Thomas to the Subdiaconate. Along with members of Subdeacon Anoop's family and friends, a delegation of St. Vladimir's students attended the service in Damascus, MD at St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church.
Concelebrating clergy at his March 16 ordination included: The Rev. K.P. Varghese, The Rev. Vijay Thomas, The Rev. Andrew Daniel, The Rev. Mat Alexander, The Rev. Gregory Varghese, The Rev. Mathew T. Mathew, Sdn. Daniel Mathai, and Sdn. Abey George. Other clergy who attended included: The Rev. K.K. John, The Rev. Poulose Peter, The Rev. Boby Varghese, The Rev. George C. Mathew, Pastor John Bromhal and Subdeacon Anoop's parish priest The Rev. Reji Chacko.
Subdeacon Anoop, treasurer for the SVOTS Student Council, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Howard University. During his years of study at St. Vladimir's, he has served at St. Mary's Orthodox Church in White Plains, NY. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Subdeacon Anoop served as an acolyte at the St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Silver Spring, MD, and as a teenager became active in the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement (MGOCSM) in the greater D.C. area.
Eventually, Subdeacon Anoop became a National Council Representative for MGOCSM for his region of the American Diocese. He served in this capacity for four years, providing input to the Council, which ultimately articulated its vision for youth in three areas: worship, study, and service. During these years he was also active in the missions movement of MGOCSM. As such, he participated in a mission outreach in Hyderabad, India and subsequently assisted mission efforts in the communities of Wichita, KS, Houston, TX, and New Orleans, LA.
During his college years, as Subdeacon Anoop was finishing his biology degree and preparing for dental school, he realized that the Lord was calling him to the ministry. Instead of studying dentistry, he moved to New York to study theology at St. Vladimir's. This spring will be an eventful one for him, and will include his May graduation from the Seminary, followed by marriage to his fiancée Tina Zachariah in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony on June 2.
