Giving glory and thanksgiving to God, more seminarians and alumni were ordained to holy orders at the conclusion of 2025 and the start of the new year. In addition, two alumni priests were elevated in rank.
HOLY PRIESTHOOD
In east Africa, Seminary alumnus Dn. Richard Okello (M.Div. ’25) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on December 28 at the newly consecrated Holy Temple of St. Nicholas in Akonyibedo, Gulu City, Uganda. Father Richard serves the Holy Diocese of Gulu and Northern Uganda (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria). His ordination was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Symeon of Fthiotida (Church of Greece).
His Eminence Metropolitan Symeon and the newly ordained Priest Richard Okello (photo: Holy Diocese of Gulu and Northern Uganda).
On the Feast of Theophany, January 6, third-year seminarian Dn. Jarrod Huffman (M.Div. program) was ordained a priest by the hands of His Eminence Archbishop Daniel. The newly ordained Fr. Jarrod is a seminarian of the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the Midwest. The ordination took place at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago.
Fr. Jarrod (center) is pictured with fellow seminarian Fr. Jonathan Reavis (left) and Seminary alumnus Fr. Justin Mathews (photo courtesy of Fr. Justin).
HOLY DIACONATE
Another alumnus, Subdeacon Subin Shaji (M.Div. ’22), was ordained to the Holy Diaconate a few days earlier on January 3. Deacon Subin’s ordination was presided over by His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho, Archbishop of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America.
The newly ordained Deacon Subin Shaji (Photo: Sumod Jacob Video & Photography).
Third-year seminarian Emil Prisquilas Peter (M.Div. program) was tonsured a subdeacon in his native India, at St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Kalyan West in the greater Mumbai area. Subdeacon Emil is attached to the Diocese of Bombay of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, under His Grace Bishop Geevarghese Mar Coorilos.
Subdeacon Emil traveled to India for his ordination (Photo: Malankara Orthodox Church).
ELEVATIONS
Two alumni of the Antiochian Archdiocese were elevated to the dignity of Archpriest. Father Lucas Rice (M.Div. ’11) was elevated by His Eminence Metropolitan Saba during His Eminence’s visit to Fr. Lucas’s parish, St. Michael Church of Louisville, KY, Jan. 2–4.
Archpriest Lucas Rice (Photo: Antiochian.org/Larry Vest).
Metropolitan Saba then traveled to St. James Church of Loveland, OH, Jan. 4–5, where he elevated its pastor, Fr. Nabil Fino. Father Nabil studied at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2002 and 2003, following his graduation from Birmingham Theological Seminary.
Metropolitan Saba with Archpriest Nabil (Photo: Antiochian.org/Niveen Taamneh).
May God continue to guide their ministries and grant them all many years!
