Archbishop of Dallas and the South

https://www.oca.org/holy-synod/bishops/the-most-reverend-alexander

Fr. Joseph was born and raised in California.  He spent many years attending (and at times assisting in the worship) at Roman Catholic parishes (and a school), at several Prostestant denominations, and at a Charasmatic Episcopal church where he led the music worship. His father introduced him to Orthodoxy in 1979.  Fr. Joseph converted in 1981 and in 1983 moved to Thessaloniki, Greece to go to seminary.  He met his wife Presbytera Despina there.  Despina's father was the Very Rev. Fr. Savvas Psaropoulos. He was the priest at St. Catherine's Church there in Thessaloniki (a 6th century church).  The family was very close to St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai.  The abbot of the monastery, His Eminence Archbishop Damianos, united Father Joseph and Presbytera in holy matrimony, baptised their oldest child Katherine, and them ordained Fr. Joseph to the deaconate at the Metoxi of St. Catherine's Monastery in Athens.  When the mother of Presbytera passed away, Despina's father was tonsured a hieromonk at St. Catherine's Monastery and served the monastery for many years until his passing.  Fr. Joseph and Presbytera returned to the states in 1996 where the late Metropolitan Anthony of San Franscisco ordained Fr. Joseph to the priesthood and assigned him to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Bakersfield California where he served for 24 years.  Fr. Joseph moved with his family to Texas in 2021 to serve at St. Seraphim's OCA Cathedral in Dallas.  In 2023 they received the blessing to start a mission in Arlington.  Fr. Joseph and Presbytera have 10 children and 9 grandchildren.