Clergy
The Very Rev. Fr. Jeries Hanna
Born in Haifa, Holy Land, Fr. Jeries was influenced by the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem from his youth up. In 1995, Fr. Jeries was called upon to serve our Lord, by receiving the blessing from His Beatitude Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem, to ordain him into the holy priesthood. On the twenty-fifth of May, His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos ordained him as Sub-Deacon and then Priest.
Since his ordination, Fr. Jeries has been responsible for the spiritual growth of many Orthodox Christians in the greater area of San Jose. Fr. Jeries always stresses the importance of following the holy and rich traditions of the Orthodox Church. "Through traditions, your spirit is one with our Lord and the Holy Fathers"
Father Deacon Joseph Kawar
A Palestinian in origin, Dcn. Joseph Kawar was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq. The Lord showed him the way to St. James parish family in 1999, and has been a parish member since then. Dcn. Joseph received the blessing to serve on the church Board of Trustees in different positions shortly after he joined the parish. Dcn. Joseph got the blessings from his spiritual father, Fr. Jeries Hanna to be ordained to the Holy Deaconate.
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, Metropolitan Savas of Troas ordained him as Deacon serving the parish of St. James Orthodox Church. Dcn. Joseph has been an advisor for the Youth Group and is overseeing the Sunday School program.