Rev. Fr. Dr. C.O.Vargis

clergy

St. Stephen’s orthodox church, houston

We believe in one True God

For our Church to have progressed this far going from strength to strength, the credit undoubtedly goes to our priests who have led us from the start. We have been blessed to have very able leaders with us, Rev. Fr. Dr. C.O.Vargis and Rev. Fr. M.T.Philip. They have been able pillars of support for all the members and with their pioneering leadership the youth of the church have profited immensely.  Dn. Stepanos has now been regularly attending our Church for more than 5 years, and is currently in the process to be ordained in the near future.

 

Rev. Dr. C.O.Vargis through his painstaking and endeavoring efforts has written a number of books which can be used by the laymen who cannot read Malayalam fluently. This has encouraged a lot of people to participate more wholeheartedly in the Qurbana and in the evening and morning prayers. Rev. Fr. M.T.Philip is also a very well-known figure in the Houston Community by having presided over the Ecumenical gatherings here, and by taking a very active part in a majority of religious organizations, and thereby sharing his valuable experiences with everyone in the community. He has also published books which he has compiled and authored, by which he has helped us benefit from his vast knowledge. Under our priests able leadership and guidance, the Church has grown from strength to strength and is among the ten largest parishes in the American diocese.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Deacon Stepanos transferred to Houston after serving as a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service at U.S. embassies in South America and the Indian Ocean. As a Jewish convert to Orthodox Christianity, Deacon Stepanos was received into the Orthodox Church by chrismation on October 31, 2000, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the Republic of Armenia. Semassen is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and completed his undergraduate theological studies through St. Elias Seminary and Graduate School in Purcellville, Virginia. He is now employed as a full-time Federal law enforcement officer, responsible for investigating fraud and corruption within the United States Government. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, serving the Church, and spending time with his wife, Cheryl (Kottayam).

Fr. M.T Philip

Dn. Stepanos