By the grace of God, four current seminarians from three different Orthodox jurisdictions were ordained to holy orders over the first weekend of April 2025.
On Saturday, April 5, Dn Argey George (M.Div. ‘25) was raised to the Holy Diaconate by the hand of His Grace Dr Thomas Mar Ivanios, Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America (MOSC) at St Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church in Farmers Branch, TX. SVOTS alumnus Toby John (M.Div. ‘21) was also ordained to the Holy Diaconate at the same service. Incoming Seminary President Dr Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie traveled to Texas to attend Dn Argey’s ordination. “Dn Argey is a valued member of our seminary community, service-oriented and supportive of his fellow students, particularly his fellow Malankara Orthodox Syrian seminarians. I was honored to attend his ordination in his home parish,” related Dr Tudorie.
On Sunday, April 6, a group of ten students attended the diaconal ordination of their brother seminarian, Dn Matthew (Galen) Wiley (M.Div. ‘25), at St Anthony Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bergenfield, NJ. Dn Matthew was ordained by the hand of His Eminence, Metropolitan Saba of the Archdiocese of New York and All North America (AOCANA). Fr Nicholas Fine (M.Div. ‘23), pastor of St Anthony Orthodox Church and instructor of Byzantine chant at St Vladimir’s Seminary, concelebrated at the Divine Liturgy, witnessing the ordination of Dn Matthew, who had been a first-year seminarian during his last year at seminary. “It was such a blessing to be present at the ordination of my brother-in-Christ, Dn Matthew,” said Fr Nicholas. “May God grant him and Shamassy Christina many blessed years and strengthen them in this new ministry.”
Back on campus, the St Vladimir’s Seminary community was blessed with a hierarchical visit from His Grace Bishop Gerasim of Fort Worth, Auxiliary for the Diocese of the South (OCA), for the Sunday of St Mary of Egypt. His Grace arrived on Saturday, April 5, and presided over the Great Vigil that evening and the Divine Liturgy on the following day.
His Grace gave the homily during the Divine Liturgy, expounding the connections between the writings of St John of the Ladder and Saint Mary of Egypt. Bishop Gerasim reminded the congregation that true spiritual growth means surrendering pride and embracing the way of the Cross—radical humility, repentance, and service. Following this exhortation, His Grace ordained seminarian Sergio Hector Lopez (M.Div. ‘26) to the Holy Diaconate and seminarian Dn John Reavis (M.Div. ‘26) to the Holy Priesthood.
Aside from his liturgical engagements, His Grace, accompanied by Fr Marcus Burch (M.Div. ‘97), Chancellor of the Diocese of the South, Fr Justin Patterson (M.Div. ‘05), and Fr Giorgi Lomsadze (M.Div. ‘24) sat down with seminarians from the OCA Diocese of the South over lunch on Saturday. Bishop Gerasim took time to connect with the students as a group and individually through private meetings with students and their families. His Grace also met with seminary children in Three Hierarchs Chapel before Vigil to talk about the sacrament of Confession in anticipation of Holy Week.
Fr John Reavis expressed his gratitude and joy at the occasion of his ordination to the Holy Priesthood, saying, “I am humbled by receiving the grace of ordination and the love and generosity of God, expressed through His Bishop, but also through the Body of Christ, my friends and family. I receive this gift and great responsibility with humility and pray to be made worthy to serve God and His Church faithfully. Thank God, I do not receive this responsibility alone, but have the prayer, support, and accountability of others, most especially my wife, Matushka Christina, for whom I am grateful to have as a partner in this ministry.”
May God grant the newly ordained Fr John and Mka Christina Reavis, Dn Argey and Kochamma Riya George, Dn Matthew and Shamassy Christina Wiley, and Dn Sergio and Mka Ruth Lopez many blessed years!
Photo credits: Austin Cherian, Dn John Rexford, Glen Mules, Scott Strickland, OCA Diocese of the South, AOCANA Facebook page.
