Biography

Hello. This is Fr. John. Let me introduce myself a bit.

I was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1975, and grew up in Itsukaichi, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture from the age of 3 to 14 due to my father's work.

I then returned to Yokohama and after graduating from university, I got a job at a correspondence education company that offered both hobbies and professional development.

After that, I studied English in Canada, which led me to America to study at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York.

After graduating from seminary, I worked mainly in the travel industry in Japan and overseas, specializing in the destination managements in the former Yugoslavia and Albania areas.

I had lived six years in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, and Pula, the major city of the Istrian peninsula. Having attended local Orthodox churches while living various countries, gave me a valuable experience to experience not only the customs of churches for immigrants and converts from North America and Western Europe, but also the customs of traditional churches in Serbia, Greece, Romania, and other countries.

My baptismal name John is from St. John Damascene/Yuhanan al-Damashqi.

My wife and I moved to Shizuoka Church at the end of August 2024.

I am looking forward meeting you at our wonderful parish. May the Blessing of Our Lord be with you!

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Ordination to Holy Deaconate: July 2023

Ordination to Holy Priesthood: July 2024

Appointed as the Rector of Shizuoka Church and Hamamatsu Mission in July 2024.