The Sixth Sunday of Pascha, May 29, 2022

Saint Mary Orthodox Church, Wilkes-Barre, PA

By the Grace of God and with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH of the Antiochian Archdiocese, our second-year seminarian Deacon Ephraim Vest was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Grace, Bishop Thomas, on the Sunday of the Blind Man, May 29, 2022, at Saint Mary Orthodox Church, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Concelebrating with His Grace were Archpriest George Alberts, Pastor of Saint Mary’s and Professor at Saint Tikhon’s, Archpriest John Parker, Dean of Saint Tikhon’s, Father Joseph Landino, Pastor of Saint Paul’s in Emmaus, PA, the newly ordained (and newly graduated) Father Athanasios Kombos, as well as second-year seminarian Deacon Michael Rehmet and Deacon Mark Makarios (also newly graduated).

At the special request of Bishop Thomas, Father Ephraim’s Ordination became a uniquely sweet and heartfelt family moment when his wife, Presvytera Erin, and their six daughters – Emmy, Mirabelle, Liliana, Magnolia, Miriam, and Jovie – lifted their angelic voices in singing the Ordination Troparia that accompanied him and his sponsors around the Holy Altar.

Joining them and the whole parish of Saint Mary’s in the great joy of the day were Father Ephraim’s parents, Larry and Rita Vest, Presvytera Erin’s parents, John and Judy Frazier, and many friends from Saint Michael’s in Louisville, KY, including Matushka Olga Atty, wife of former Seminary Dean, the Archpriest Alexander Atty of Blessed Memory, as well as seminary faculty and many fellow seminarians and their families.

Together with them all, the Saint Tikhon community exclaims,

AXIOS!  AXIOS!  AXIOS!

By Karsten Boyer, Class of 2023