Since the conclusion of Fall Semester 2018 in December, one bishop, four new priests, five new deacons, and one Stavrophore have been added to the ranks of our Student Body and Alumni fellowship.
Ordinations, receptions, and elevations from Fall Semester 2018 can be viewed here.
We keep them in prayer as they continue in their ministries. Axios!
HOLY EPISCOPACY
Bishop Daniel (Findikyan), Alumnus (M.Div. '89)
Jurisdiction: Armenian Church of America, Eastern Diocese of America
Holy Priesthood: Ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag, eleventh primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in 1997 in New York, NY
Elevation to Doctor of the Church: Elevated to the rank of Vartabed (doctor of the church) in 2006 in Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Armenia
Elevation to Primate: Elected twelfth diocesan primate by 116th Diocesan Assembly of Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America 4MAY18 IN West Harrison, NY; Confirmed as primate 8May18 by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; Enthroned 8May18 at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, New York, NY
Holy Episcopacy: Consecrated bishop 12MAY19 by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, at Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia
Current Ministry: Primate of Eastern Diocese of America of the Armenian Church of America
Education and Professional Background: Doctor of Liturgical Studies, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, Italy; Master of Arts degree in Musicology, City University of New York, Master of Divinity, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY; Master of Divinity, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY. Currently the director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), New York, NY; professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY; professor of Armenian Studies, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY; president of the Society of Oriental Liturgy; visiting pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Charlotte, NC, from 1998 to 2005; author of more than 60 scholarly articles and books.
HOLY PRIESTHOOD
Priest George Ninan Manampuram, Alumnus (M.Div. ’17)
Jurisdiction: Diocese of South-West America of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 21DEC 18 by His Grace, Zacharias Mar Aprem, Metropolitan of Adoor-Kadampanad Diocese (India) and Auxiliary of South-West American Diocese, at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Kuttemperoor, Mannar, India
Holy Priesthood: Ordained to the Holy Priesthood 21DEC18 at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Kuttemperoor, Mannar, India by the hand of His Grace Dr. Zacharias Mar Aprem, Assistant Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America (MOSC)
Current Ministry: Awaiting assignment
Education and Professional Background: Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Widener University’ Masters in Counseling Psychology from Rosemont College; Counseling and Case Management Supervisor for victims of domestic violence at Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, PA
Priest Givargis (Abu) Koshy George (M.Div. ‘08)
Jurisdiction: Diocese of Northeast America of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 2June12 by the hand of His Grace Geevarghese Mar Ivanios of Kottayam Diocese (MOSC), at St. Basil's Monastery (Mor Baselios Dayro), Njaliakuzhy, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 23DEC18 at St. George Orthodox Church of Westchester, Port Chester, NY, by the hand of His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Metropolitan of the Diocese of Northeast America (MOSC)
Current ministry: Awaiting assignment
Education and Professional Background: MBA from Fordham University, NY; MS Computer Science candidate at Fordham University; Financial and Compliance Auditor for Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Priest Kuriakose (Alex) Abraham (M.Div., ’16)
Jurisdiction: Diocese of Northeast America of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 23OCT18 by the hand of His Grace Metropolitan Youhanon Mar Dioscorus at St. George Orthodox Church of Parampuzha, Kerala, India.
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 30March19 at Sts. Baselios & Gregorios Orthodox Church, Plainfield, NJ, by the hand of His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Metropolitan of the Diocese of Northeast America (MOSC)
Current ministry: Assigned as spiritual adviser for annual Winter Summit conference for Malankara Orthodox college students; awaiting parish assignment
Educational and professional background: B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University
Priest Thomas (Shawn) Thomas (M.Div., ’16; Th.M. ‘17)
Jurisdiction: Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 27OCT18 by the hand of His Grace Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos at St. Thomas Chapel, Diocesan Metropolitan’s Residence (Aramana), Muttontown, NY
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 27April19 at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Elmhurst, IL, by the hand of His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Metropolitan of the Diocese of Northeast America (MOSC)
Current Ministry: Awaiting Assignment
Educational and professional background: B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
HOLY DIACONATE
Deacon Geevarghese (Bobby) Varghese (M.Div., ’17)
Jurisdiction: Diocese of Northeast America of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 21December18 by the hand of His Grace Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos at St. Thomas Chapel, Diocesan Metropolitan’s Residence (Aramana), Muttontown, NY
Current ministry: Chaplain at Brooklyn VA Hospital, under the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System; assigned as spiritual advisor for diocesan youth association Missions Board
Educational and professional background: Chaplain at Brooklyn VA hospital, under the VA NY Harbor Healthcare system
Deacon Stefan Djoric (M.A., ’18, Seminarian, Th.M. Program)
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
Educational and professional background: B.A. studies in Theology at the University of Belgrade
Patriarchal Hierodeacon Aetios (formerly Dimitrios) Nikiforos (M.Div., ’18)
Jurisdiction: Ecumenical Patriarchate
Monastic Tonsure: Tonsured 16March19 by the hand of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Venerable Patriarchal Church of St George, Istanbul, Turkey.
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 17March19 by the hand of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at at the Venerable Patriarchal Church of St George, Istanbul, Turkey.
Current ministry: Working at the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; 1st Patriarchal Office.
Educational and professional background: LLB (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Law); LLM in Public Law & Political Science (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Law); LLM in Legal Theory (NYU School of Law); PgCert in Canon Law (Cardiff School of Law & Politics); Attorney-at-law.
Deacon Nathaniel Trembley (2nd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 31March19 by the hand of His Eminence JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America (AOCANA), at St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Worcester, MA
Educational and Professional Background: Before seminary, Dn. Nathaniel was an affiliate philosophy instructor at Highline College, teaching philosophy, ethics, world religions, and atheism and philosophy; he holds degrees in philosophy and comparative religion from Washington State University, where he also earned a Master’s degree in philosophy.
Deacon David McCready (Seminarian, Non-degree track)
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
Current ministry: Deacon David and his wife, Andrea, will be moving to Colorado in June 2019 to pastor a small Western Rite parish in Lafayette, just outside Denver.
Educational and Professional Background: Former Anglican priest; Holds a number of degrees, including a Ph.D. from Trinity College, Dublin
MONASTIC TONSURE
Mother Macrina (Roeber) (formerly Sister Margarete) (M.A., ’16; Th.M., ’17)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Monastic Tonsure: Tonsured to the rank of Stavrophore 19DEC18, by the hand of His Eminence Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the West, at Holy Assumption Monastery, Calistoga, CA.
Current ministry: Member of Holy Assumption Monastery, under Abbess Melania; obediences as cantor and bookeeper
Educational and professional background: Joined St. Barbara Orthodox Monastery, Santa Paula, CA as a novice in 2009; transferred at the blessing of bishop to Holy Assumption Monastery, Calistoga, CA, in October, 2009; tonsured to the rank of Rassophore at Holy Assumption Monastery in 2012.
