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Assistant Priest
Fr. Joel Thomas
Assistant Priest
Phone:
407 - 776 - 0212
Email:
History Enthusiast
Fr. Joel, originally from Chicago, is a devoted Orthodox Priest with a deep interest in history, particularly ancient Greece, and has cultivated a passion for learning about the early church and its significance. Now happily married to Presbytera Chloe, Fr. Joel enjoys spending time with his family, often reflecting on the rich tapestry of faith and history that has shaped his life.
Fr. Joel's Background
Early Life & Seeking Truth
First Steps into Orthodoxy
Catechism, Baptism, and Marriage
Ordained to the Deaconate- 2022
Ordained to the Priesthood - 2024
Fr. Joel was born and raised in Chicago as a Roman Catholic. In his early 20s, he sought the truth among various religions, believing there could only be one path to God. Thus began his journey to find the truth.
Fr. Joel's close uncle married a Greek woman and often visited, fixing cars and chatting with the family. This is where he first learned about the Orthodox Church and the journeys of the Apostle Paul in Greece, sparking his interest in ancient history. Years later, he met his, Presbytera Chloe, who invited him to church. Although he hesitated at first, he eventually attended his first vespers, recalling his earlier research.
While attending vespers at St. John the Forerunner, he met Fr. Christos Pittos and felt teleported back in time. Eventually, Fr. Christos invited him to Saturday catechism classes, and his official catechism began in 2013. He was baptized and then married Presbytera Chloe in June 6.
He desired to help the church and began reading at the chanter's stand. After about a year, he visited Greece, which greatly impacted his faith by bringing to life places he had only read about. There, he met a priest related to Fr. Leonidas and learned valuable lessons. A few years later, he visited St. John of San Francisco monastery in New York, met the Metropolitan, and sought guidance on helping the church. After praying, he was contacted a year later to move to New York for his ordination as a Deacon, allowing him to learn directly from the Fathers and the Metropolitan.
After two years serving the church as a Deacon and traveling to many of our parishes, he was ordained to the holy priesthood on the feast day of St Markella, at the cathedral of St Markella in Astoria Queens New York.
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