In a joyful start to the 2014–2015 Academic Year, three St. Vladimir's seminarians in the Master of Divinity program were ordained to the Holy Diaconate and the Holy Priesthood. (Photo credits: Rami Dahdal and Chris Humphrey )
Father Mark Vair, Baltimore, MD
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Student Status Third Year
Ordination Holy Priesthood, September 14, 2014, Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church in Linthicum, MD, by The Right Rev. Bishop Thomas. The Very Rev. Gregory Mathewes-Green of Holy Cross and The Very Rev. John Mefrige of St. Ephraim Antiochian Orthodox Church in San Antonio, TX, were sponsors for ordination.
Educational and Professional Background Father Mark earned an Associates of Arts degree from the Community College of Baltimore County, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University.
Biographical notes Father Mark worked in healthcare for seven years before entering St. Vladimir's Seminary in the fall of 2012. His wife Vasilia works as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in the Bronx, New York. The couple is expecting their first child in early November.
My goal for my ministry is to heal, restore, and renew people's lives in Christ. My mission is to evangelize North America and continue to grow the Church. Perhaps the most influential persons in my life was His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of Blessed Memory, as well as my parish priest The Very Rev. Gregory Mathewes-Green.
Deacon Joshua Burnett, Pittsburgh, PA
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Student Status Third Year
Ordination Holy Diaconate, September 28, 2014 at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Pittsburgh, PA, Dn. Joshua’s home parish. The ordaining hierarch was The Rt. Rev. Bishop Thomas, Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic, Antiochian Archdiocese, on behalf of His Eminence the Most Rev. Metropolitan Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America.
Concelebrating were The Rt. Rev. Bishop John, Diocese of Worcester and New England, with Cathedral Dean The Rev. Demetrios Joshua Makoul.
Educational and Professional Background Deacon Joshua received a Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then served as a high school English teacher with Teach for America in the St. Louis public schools, and most recently directed a non-profit school garden program in Pittsburgh, PA (2007-12).
Biographical notes Deacon Joshua's parish assignment is at the St. Stephen Orthodox Church in South Plainfield, NJ, with The Very Rev. Stephen Tewfik. He and his wife, Meredith have four children: Katherine (7), Naomi (5), Isaiah (2), and Gideon (9 mo.). They enjoy gardening and cycling together.
Father Gabriel Tannous, Spring, TX
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Student status Third Year
Ordination Holy Priesthood, November 2, 2014, at St. Anthony the Great in Spring, TX, with ordaining hierarch The Right Rev. Bishop Basil, Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America, Antiochian Archdiocese. Clergy present included The Rev. Anthony Baba, St. Anthony rector; The Rev. James Shadid of St. George, Houston; and The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, SVOTS Chancellor/CEO. Deacons serving were Hierodeacon Monk Benedict (Armitage) and Protodeacon George Moubayed.
Educational and Professional Background Bachelor of Arts in International Politics, Minors in Business and Middle Eastern Studies at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, May 2006; sales executive; employee for his father’s business.
Biographical notes One of six children, Fr. Gabriel was born as “Jabra” in Amman, Jordan, and moved with his family to the U.S. as a child. His parents grew up as Palestinian refugees in Amman, Jordan, after their parents fled Palestine following World War II.
Father Gabriel married Gabriella Mobayed of Sugarland, TX on June 16th, 2013, in St. Anthony Antiochian Orthodox Church in Spring, TX, and participated as a member of the St. Vladimir's Student Council during the 2013–2014 school year. In the summer of 2014, he served as an assistant to The Right Rev. Bishop Nicholas (Ozone), auxiliary bishop for Brooklyn, of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, at the Antiochian Archdiocese headquarters in Englewood, NJ.
I am still contemplating the whirlwind of emotions that were involved in the ordination. Bishop Basil gave an incredible homily on the priesthood and how ordination is transformative. I feel different and changed in ways that I cannot explain. I am incredibly grateful and humbled by Fr. Anthony Baba and the entire parish at St. Anthony in Spring, TX. It was truly a blessed day.
