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Our Clergy
The Reverend Father
Damaskinos Issa
Rev. Fr. Damaskinos Issa is an Antiochian Orthodox Christian priest. He holds a Bachelor in Biomedical Engineering from Damascus University (2002), a Master of Divinity from the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology at Balamand University in Lebanon (2008) and Master of Theology from Hellenic College-Holy Cross in Brookline, Massachusetts (2012) with a graduate thesis titled “The Image of the Throne in the Book of Revelation: Liturgy as an Interpretative Key.” Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. His dissertation is about focuses on liturgy as performative exegesis.
Originally from Homs, Syria, he was born in 1980 to faithful orthodox family. He was an actively engaged in the Orthodox church Sunday Schools and young adults ministry at his home Archdiocese of Homs. He and his wife Kourie Ramia, met in the church school in their home parish of St. George Orthodox Church in AlHamidia-Homs. They got married in August 16, 2009.
Father Damaskinos was ordained to the diaconate on April 6, 2010 in Homs-Syria. Shortly afterward, he was awarded a scholarship from Balamand University to attend Holy Cross seminary for master studies. He served as a deacon in St. George Church in West Roxbury.
On March 10, 2013 Father Damaskinos was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop John of New England at St. George church in Norwood, MA. Upon his ordination he was assigned to serve St. Michael Orthodox Church in Cape Cod, MA. He served the community there until moving with his family to Pittsburgh in order to pursue the doctorate studies in Theology at Duquesne University.
While there Fr. Damaskinos served as an assistant priest at St. George church in Bridgeville, PA until H.E Metropolitan JOSEPH assigned him to his current ministry as the pastor of St. Mary Church in Hunt Valley, MD.
Father Damaskinos and Kh. Ramia have two children, Michael and Sophia.​
The name DAMASKINOS (الدمشقي) is the greek name of “St. John of Damascus” whom feast day is December 4th the same feast day of St. Barbara.
Dn. Gabriel Daya was born and raised in Tartous, Syria on June 22, 1956 as the youngest of six siblings to a pious Orthodox family. Throughout his youth, Dn. Gabriel was actively involved in many aspects of the Church life including Sunday school, altar serving, and scouts. He graduated medical school from Damascus University in 1980 and moved to the United States in 1983. After completing his residency in obstetrics-gynecology in 1991, Dn. Gabriel began working in private practice and continues to provide care and treatment to thousands of patients.
In 2010, Dn. Gabriel received his certificate in Orthodox Theology after completing the St. Stephen's Program through the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on July 3, 2011 and since then has been serving at St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Dn. Gabriel and his wife Shamassa Roula married in 1984 and have three daughters: Christine (married to Samer Korkor), Natalie (married to Hussam Malek), and Nicole (married to Dr. George Kreisheh). They are blessed with seven grandchildren.
The Reverend Deacon
Dr. Gabriel Daya
