The faithful from Saint Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA witnessed the ordination of John (Marcelo) Souza to the Holy Diaconate by His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Also participating in the service were Rev. Father Gary Kyriacou, Proistamenos of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA; Rev. Father Niko Bekris of Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church in Castro Valley, CA; Rev. Father Constantine Trumpower of Saint Demetrios Camarillo, CA; Rev. Father Christopher Retelas of Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim, CA; Rev. Father Gabriel Cupsa of Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church in Stockton, CA; and Rev. Deacon Evangelos Karapoulios of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Long Beach, CA.
On Sunday, April 7, 2024, Deacon John Souza was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at Saint Sophia Cathedral by His Grace Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea, Chancellor of the Metropolis of San Francisco. Also participating in the service were Rev. Father Gary Kyriacou, Proistamenos of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA; Rev. Father John Bakas, Dean Emeritus; and Rev. Deacon Evangelos Karapoulios of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Long Beach, CA.
Father John was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 24, he moved to the United States to pursue his education. In 2001, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy/Theology from Biola University in La Mirada, CA. In 2005, he graduated from Westminster Seminary in Escondido, CA, with a Master of Divinity and was ordained a Minister a few months later and served as pastor of a Protestant church in Anaheim, CA from 2005 – 2009. He began to explore Orthodox Christianity and was mentored by Rev. Father Steven Tsichlis from Saint Paul in Irvine, CA, and after relocating to Northern California, was subsequently Chrismated by Rev. Father Aris Metrakos at Holy Trinity Church in San Francisco on Pascha 2010.
He enrolled at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA in September 2020 and graduated with his Master of Divinity degree in May 2023. In March 2023, he started working as a Pastoral Assistant at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles. He is presently finishing his Th.M. at Holy Cross School of Theology, and his Ph.D. at Claremont Graduate University. Father John is now serving as the Assistant Priest at Saint Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, CA.
Father John has two children, Sean and Kathryn. Father John and Presvytera Jennifer were married on February 22, 2024, at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Charlotte, North Carolina.
AXIOS Father John!
