St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Fr. David Jacobs
Fr. David was born and raised in Utica, NY where he attended St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. Upon graduating high school, he attended and graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art. He was tonsured a reader by Bishop BASIL while attending college at St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church.
In 2004, Fr. David enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary. During his years at seminary, he was made a Sub-deacon by Bishop ANTOUN at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, Bridgeport CT.
Fr. David then moved to Chambersburg, PA in 2008 to serve as a pastoral assistant to Fr. Ted Pulcini at St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church. After marrying his wife, Tatiana, in 2009, Fr. David moved to Northern Virginia and worked as the choir director at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, VA. Fr. David and Tatiana then moved to the Antiochian Village Camp in Ligonier, PA where he served as Program Director from 2010 to 2013. During this time, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop ALEXANDER at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Utica NY.
Fr. David returned to Chambersburg, PA in 2014 and served as a deacon at St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church. In June 2016, Fr. David was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop THOMAS and immediately installed as the pastor of St. James the Apostle Orthodox Church in Westminster MD, on July 1, 2016. Fr. David was blessed to serve the faithful of St. James for three years. On August 25, 2019, he was assigned as pastor of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chambersburg PA.
Our Priest
Dn. Evangelos Prieston
Deacon Evangelos was born in Astoria, Queens, New York and was raised in Yonkers, New York. He attended Yonkers City Public Schools and Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. His undergraduate college education was completed at West Virginia University College of Pharmacy where he earned a B.S. degree in Pharmacy. After an internship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, Deacon Evangelos earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Duquesne University and completed a post-doctoral residency at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh. He has served as Director of Pharmacy Services at Loudoun Hospital Center in Leesburg, Virginia and recently retired from Chambersburg Hospital where he served as Assistant Director of Pharmacy for Clinical Services for 27 years.
Deacon Evangelos was one of the founding members of St. Mary Orthodox Church in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He was tonsured as a reader by Bishop ANTOUN, ordained a sub-deacon by Bishop THOMAS, and after completing the St. Stephen’s Course in Orthodox Theology, Bishop THOMAS ordained him to the diaconate. Deacon Evangelos went on to complete the M.A degree in Applied Orthodox Theology from Balamand University and then the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
In addition to his assignment at St. Mary Orthodox Church, Deacon Evangelos assists part-time at Epiphany of Our Lord Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Besides his service at the altar, his ministry includes leading periodic medical mission teams to under developed countries providing basic medical care and being a Christian witness.
Our Deacon
Dn. George Anderson
Deacon George was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Northern California. After graduating high school, he spent several formative years at the St. Herman of Alaska Monastery in Platina, CA. During this foundational period, he assisted with the monastery’s mission work throughout the Pacific Northwest and served as the driver and assistant to Fr. Seraphim Rose until Fr. Seraphim’s repose in 1982.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Deacon George served as a Combat Medical NCO, including a four-year tour in Germany and service with the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Polk, LA. During his military service, he and his wife, Brenda (Margaret), were married in 1985. Following his honorable discharge, he attended Shippensburg University, where he graduated Cum Laude in 1992 with a degree in Computer Science. Deacon George recently retired from a thirty-year career at Manitowoc Cranes, where he served as the Lead Business Systems Analyst, specializing in process improvement and team mentorship.
Deacon George completed the St. Stephen’s Course in Orthodox Theology earning a Master of Theological Studies, awarded on September 7, 2023. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Grace Bishop THOMAS on August 18, 2024.
At St. Mary’s, Deacon George developed and continues to teach the parish’s catechism program, guiding those preparing to enter the Orthodox Church. He and Brenda have one grown daughter, Sophia. Brenda is deeply involved in the life of the parish, contributing to the liturgical life of the church through the baking of prosphora and the sewing and maintenance of vestments, altar cloths, and baptismal robes. She also remains active in the family and women’s fellowships, childcare, and various hospitality ministries.
Our Deacon