Over the summer and fall semester of 2025, two new bishops, seven new priests, and six new deacons were added to St Vladimir’s Seminary’s student body and alumni fellowship. Another was elevated in rank.
We keep them all in prayer as they continue in their ministries!
HOLY EPISCOPACY
Bishop Vasily (Permiakov) (M.Div. ’04; Asst. Prof. of Liturgical Theology, 2020–2025)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America
Holy Episcopacy: Ordained 16 Aug 2025 at Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco, CA
Current Ministry: Bishop of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West; Part-Time Faculty, St. Vladimir’s Seminary
(Photo: romfea.gr)
Bishop Philip Mugadizi (M.Div. ’03)
Jurisdiction: Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria
Holy Episcopacy: Ordained 25 November 2025 at the Holy Patriarchal Church of Saint Nicholas in Hamzawi, Cairo, Egypt
Current Ministry: Bishop of the Orthodox Diocese of Kisumu and Western Kenya; Deputy Dean and Lecturer at the Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School of Makarios III Archbishop of Cyprus in Nairobi, Kenya
HOLY PRIESTHOOD
Priest Benedict (Benjamin) Andersen (M.Div. ’05)
Jurisdiction: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Holy Priesthood: Vested as a priest 13 July 2025 at St. Spyridon Orthodox Church, Loveland, CO
Current Ministry: Assigned to Ss. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Boulder, CO, and St. Spyridon Orthodox Church in Loveland, CO
(Photo: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church)
Priest Michael Azar (M.A., ’05)
Jurisdiction: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 20 July 2025 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Casper, WY
Current Ministry: Professor of Theology/Religious Studies at the University of Scranton
Priest Andrew Dunks (Non-Degree Track)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 24 August 2025 at St. Cyprian of Carthage Church, Midlothian, VA
Current Ministry: Attached to St. Cyprian of Carthage Church, Midlothian, VA
Priest Geevarghese (Argey) George (Former M.Div. Student)
Jurisdiction: Diocese of South-West America, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 8 November 2025 at St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church in Farmers Branch, TX
Current Ministry: Assigned as Pastor of St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church, Pompano Beach, FL
(Photo: Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos)
Priest Gregory Gatanas (Former M.A. Student)
Jurisdiction: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 9 November 2025 at the Church of the Holy Resurrection in Brookville, NY
Current Ministry: Assistant Priest at Saint Sophia Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
Priest Nathan Jekel (M.Div. ‘26)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 21 November 2025 at St. Philip Orthodox Church, Souderton, PA
Current Ministry: Continuing studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary
Priest Nicholas Aultman (M.Div. ’26)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 5 December 2025 at Virgin Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, Yonkers, NY
Current Ministry: Continuing studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary
HOLY DIACONATE
(Photo: Diocese of the Midwest)
Deacon Timothy Heinbockel (M.A. ’20)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 8 June 2025 at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL
Current Ministry: Assigned to Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL
Deacon Daniel Werner (M.Div. ’26)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 8 September 2025 at Three Hierarchs Chapel, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY
Current Ministry: Continuing studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary
Deacon Andrew Neel (M.Div. ’27)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 23 November 2025 at St. Stephen the Protomartyr Antiochian Orthodox Church, South Plainfield, NJ
Current Ministry: Continuing studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary
(Photo: Antiochian.org/Subdn. Andrea Christoforides)
Deacon Sophrony (Scott) Strickland (M.Div. ’27)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 6 December 2025 at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY
Current Ministry: Continuing studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary
(Photo: Antiochian.org/Christopher Whittington)
Deacon John Whiteside (M.Div. ’27)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 7 December 2025 at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of Little Falls, NJ
Current Ministry: Continuing studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary
Deacon Mathew (Royce) Mathew (M.Div. ’20)
Jurisdiction: Northeast American Diocese, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 13 December 2025 at the chapel of the Diocesan Chancery Muttontown, NY
Current Ministry: Attached to St. Andrew Malankara Orthodox Church, Glenwood Landing, NY, and St. Luke the Evangelist Malankara Orthodox Mission Church, Bensalem, PA
ELEVATIONS
Archdeacon Elias (Elio) Nicolas (M.A. ‘19)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Elevation: Elevated to the dignity of archdeacon 5 December 2025 at Virgin Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, Yonkers, NY
Current Ministry: Assistant to Metropolitan Saba at the archdiocesan headquarters in Englewood, NJ
If you know of an alumnus who received Holy Orders, an elevation, or monastic tonsure since June 1, 2025 and isn’t listed here, please let us know by sending details and a photo to media@svots.edu.
