On the Feast of the Holy and Righteous Lazarus, seminarian Deacon Seraphim (William) Joa was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Grace The Right Rev. Michael, bishop of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, Orthodox Church in America. Father Seraphim is in his third year of the Master of Divinity program here at St. Vladimir’s. He and his wife, Matushka Julie, came to the seminary in 2009, from Long Island, New York, where their home parish of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is located, in the town of East Meadow.
Father Seraphim holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Idaho and a Professional Engineers License; he was a Career Naval Officer in his prior professional life. During his senior year at the seminary, his parish placement has been at Christ the Savior Church, Southbury, Connecticut, where he is being mentored by Archpriest Vladimir Aleandro, rector.
Father Seraphim and his wife, Matushka Julie, are blessed with "one married son, a wonderful daughter-in-law, a granddaughter attending Auburn University, and a grandson who is a high school junior in Alabama."
The entire seminary community wishes Fr. Seraphim and Matushka Julie many blessed years!
See a gallery of photos of Fr. Seraphim's ordination, and the Lazarus Saturday procession with children, taken by Tatiana Hoff, here.
See a gallery of photos of Fr. Seraphim's ordination, and the Lazarus Saturday procession with children, taken by David Lucs, here.
See a gallery of photos of Palm Sunday Vigil, with Fr. Seraphim serving, taken by Tatiana Hoff, here.
Watch videos of Fr. Seraphim's ordination, taken by Marie Rentel: "encircling the altar," here; "the grace of the Holy Spirit," here; and "Axios," here.
