Saint Vladimir's Seminary Alumnus Basil Mathai and Seminarian Alexander Earl were both ordained to the rank of deacon in recent days.
The Rev. Dn. Basil Puthukkunnathu Mathai was ordained for the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America on March 19, 2022 by the hand of His Eminence, Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho. The ordination took place at St. Ephrem Cathedral at the Malankara Archdiocesan Headquarters in Old Tappan, NJ. Several other St. Vladimir's graduates and current seminarians from the Syriac Orthodox Church served at the Divine Liturgy and ordination.
Deacon Basil serves at St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church of White Plains, NY (Bronxville, NY) and is regional clergy advisor for the archdiocesan youth association. He also teaches history at a high school in Newark, NJ. He graduated from St. Vladimir's Seminary with an M.Div. degree in 2020, and also holds a B.A. in history & international affairs from the University of Georgia and an M.A. in Middle Eastern studies from Boston College.
The Rev. Dn. Alexander Earl was ordained at St. Vladimir's Seminary's Three Hierarchs Chapel on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 2022. His Grace, Bishop Gerasim presided over the festal Divine Liturgy and ordination, assisted by clergy of the Seminary's student body and faculty.
Deacon Alexander is a seminarian of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and is in his second year studying in St. Vladimir's M.Div. program. Additionally, he continues to serve as director of the Center for Philosophy & Theology, as well as instructor, at Pacifica Christian High School in Santa Monica, CA, where he worked for several years prior to coming to the Seminary. Deacon Alexander holds an M.A. in religion with a concentration in philosophical theology from Yale Divinity School and a B.A. in religious studies and philosophy from Rollins College, Winter Park, FL.
Deacon Alexander's wife, Danielle Earl, is librarian at St. Vladimir's Seminary's Fr. Georges Florovsky Library.
The community of St. Vladimir's wishes newly ordained Deacons Alexander and Basil and their families many years! AXIOS, dear deacons!
