Seminarian Christen George

Christen George is a first-year seminarian at St. Tikhon’s Seminary, Class of 2028. He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Rehabilitation Studies. He came to St. Tikhon’s Seminary from his home parish, St. Gregorios Orthodox Church in Garland, Texas, which is part of the Diocese of South-West America. Prior to coming to seminary, he worked as a Behavior Therapist for autistic children. His hobbies include watching and playing sports, movies and television, and hiking and traveling.

Before coming to seminary, Christen says he had many opportunities to serve the Church, including as a Sunday School teacher, Secretary and Area Representative for MGOCSM, and a member of the Parish Committee. He says these opportunities helped him realize the love he has for the Church and his desire to be ready to serve and help in whatever capacity he can be useful. Outside of Church activities, giving tennis lessons to young people, volunteering at Faith Presbyterian Hospice Bereavement Group meetings, and participating in camp activities helped him realize the love he has for people who are in need of help and comfort through the support of others.

Christen says the help and support he received led him to St. Tikhon’s Seminary, where he hopes to follow a more dutiful path, helping those in need of spiritual enlightenment or simply wishing to learn more about the Faith, so that God’s Word may spread, just as Christ taught in the Sermon on the Mount. He describes his time at St. Tikhon’s as truly enlightening. He has joined his brothers in various opportunities to serve the community and to participate in Church School every Monday, similar to Sunday School. He says the kindness and friendliness of everyone at the Seminary has been a beautiful and unexpected blessing.

Leaving home for the first time has not been easy for him. Giving up the job he loved and being away from his home, friends, family, his Church, and those he loves back home was very tough. Christen says he knows God has a pathway for him, and this was not a very easy decision to make. Once he arrived at St. Tikhon’s, he found himself wondering how he could become involved in the Northeast in the same way he had back home. Seeing how friendly and welcoming everyone has been, however, St. Tikhon’s has quickly become his second home. Leaving his job, his family and friends, and his church was very challenging, but he knows the Lord will provide a way to help him and be there for him. He hopes to serve the Church in whatever capacity he can through the virtues and skills he is gaining at the Seminary.

When asked what he loves about St. Tikhon's, Christen says: