Our beloved priest

Fr. Stephanos was born in Amman, Jordan on July 3, 1958. From an early age, Fr. Stephanos demonstrated a keen interest in the Orthodox Christian faith. In 1977, the Church sponsored him at Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece, to study the Greek language. The following year he moved to Bucharest, Romania, to begin his studies at the Orthodox Theological Seminary, wherein he earned his Ph.D. in 1988.

Fr. Stephanos was ordained in 1990 and entered the Holy Priesthood on September 27 of that year. At the youthful age of 32, Fr. Stephanos served as pastor of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Zarqa, Jordan. Father Stephanos's achievements at St. George were remarkable. He oversaw the renovation of the church and its annexes, established Sunday School classes, and organized the ladies society into a cohesive group that, among its many achievements, fostered care and aid to the city's disadvantaged. As a result of Fr. Stephanos's inspirational leadership, St. George became a well-organized parish. During his years of service to the Lord, Fr. Stephanos also compiled several liturgical books that continue to be actively used throughout the churches in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. 

During his years at St. George, Fr. Stephanos became passionate about supporting the plight of the Arab Orthodox Christians in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and played an instrumental role in advancing their cause. In 1998, Fr. Stephanos left the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and joined the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, under the authority of the Late Metropolitan Philip of thrice blessed memory.

Los Angeles, California.

In 2001, Fr. Stephanos was assigned to establish a mission church in Los Angeles, California. Under the guidance and care of His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, the mission later became St. James Church, where he had served for 21 years. Fr. Stephanos's role in establishing a mission and growing it into a thriving, viable Orthodox Christian church is an exemplary legacy that will be remembered by all who knew him.