Ordinations in Kodiak - 03/15/09
His Grace Bishop BENJAMIN of San Francisco and the West, administrator
of the Diocese of Alaska ordained Deacon Gregory Parker to the Holy
Priesthood on Sunday, March 15th, 2009. Celebrating a joyous
hierarchical liturgy of St. Basil with His Grace was Archpriest Michael
Oleksa acting chancellor of the diocese, Priest Innocent Dresdow, Dean
of Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Archimandrite Juvenaly, Hieromonk
Sergius, Archpriest Martin Nicolai, Archpriest John Dunlop, Dean of St.
Herman Seminary, Priest Paisius Delucia, Dean of St. Innocent Academy,
Priest Evon Bereskin, Priest Joshua Resnick and Deacon Anthony May.
Reader Methodius Nicori was ordained to the diaconate on Saturday,
March 14, and served his first vigil as a Deacon on Saturday evening.
Deacon Methodius is completing his third year of study at St. Herman
Theological Seminary in Kodiak. He is from Kwethluk, Alaska, where he
attends St. Nicholas Church. He is a graduate of Alaska Moravian
Seminary (2001). He is supported in his studies in Kodiak by his wife
Elsie and children Martha, Katherine and Juvenaly. A group of five
individuals sponsor him financially through Outreach Alaska.
Deacon Gregory Parker was ordained to the priesthood on Sunday, March
15, He is completing his fourth and final year of study at St. Herman
Theological Seminary in Kodiak. He has served as a Deacon at the
Seminary and Cathedral for the past year. Deacon Gregory is from Lame
Deer, Montana, which is located in the northern Cheyenne reservation.
He has a bachelor of arts degree in human services from Salish-Kootenai
College in Pablo, Montana. He is supported in his studies in Kodiak by
his wife Marlene, children Gabe, Roger and Leo, and mother Sue Parker.
Two Orthodox parishes support him financially, his home parish St.
Nicholas of Zhica and St. Nicholas Church in Washington, D.C. (through
Outreach Alaska).
Reader Ishmael Andrew was ordained to the diaconate on Sunday, March
15. Deacon Ishmael is completing his third year of study at St. Herman
Theological Seminary in Kodiak. He is from Kwigillingok, Alaska, where
he attends St. Michael Church. In addition to his seminary studies,
Andrew has a background in elementary education, having received an
associate of arts degree and neared completion of a teaching
certificate at the Kuskokwim Campus of the University of Alaska. He is
supported in his studies in Kodiak by his wife Anastasia, children
Elijah, Zenaida and Aidan and his father Noah Sr. and mother Donna from
Kwigillingok. He is sponsored financially by St. John the Forerunner
Church in Texas and by individuals from New Jersey who support him
through Outreach Alaska.
His Grace admonished the newly ordained of their role as shepherds, a
role in which the shepherd faithfully leads by serving with love,
humility, and forgiveness being the living image of Christ to the flock
entrusted to their care.