Who We Are

Who we are

Christ The Saviour Church is a mission parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. We are a diverse community. We have members who learned the Orthodox faith at an early age and those who discovered it as adults. Services are in English. Please take a look at the schedule of services and come visit us!

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

We come together as The Church to love and to worship God, and to joyfully live, celebrate, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We serve one another, the community, and the world through heartfelt and reverent worship, fellowship, teaching, ministering, and outreach.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

The parish began in the 1990s as a local group of Christians found their way from Episcopalianism and, under the leadership of Fr. Cassian Dunlop, from Anglicanism into the Orthodoxy. They spent their first few months in the Western rite but, under the leadership of their new priest, Fr. David Randolph, soon changed to the Byzantine rite. Fr. David served as the priest and rector of the parish for twenty years (1998 to 2018). For the next few years, the parish was served by local clergy, including Fr. Gregory Mathewes-Green and Fr. Anthony Perkins. During this time, the parish was sustained by a handful of committed members. In 2023 Fr. Anthony Perkins began serving the parish full-time. Glory to God, the community is growing; attracting and serving a diverse group of believers who like each other so much that the coffee hour often extends well into the afternoon!

Click here to listen to an interview with a founding member of the parish talk about its history.
Click here to listen to an interview with Fr. David Randolph, the pastor of the parish from 1998 - 2018.
Click here to read an article (w/pictures!) about our parish in the DOMSE newsletter, "The Light."

Our Patriarch

Patriarch John X of Antioch

His Beatitude John X was born in 1955 in the city of Lattakia, Syria. His father Mounah Yazigi was from Lattakia, a teacher of Arabic language. His mother Rosa Moussi is from Tripoli, Lebanon. They gave birth to four children – two boys and two girls. His Beatitude’s brother is His Grace Metropolitan Boulos of Aleppo. One sister is a nun. His Beatitude lived and studied in the city schools. He graduated from the University of Teshreen with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. During his university studies, he played an active and leading role with the youth, which led to the establishment of a Byzantine Music School and many spiritual youth programs. His work led to a great spiritual revival among his generation.

In 1978, His Beatitude graduated from the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, with a Bachelor in Theology. In 1983 he graduated from the University of Thessaloniki, Greece with a doctoral degree in Liturgia. He was awarded the Doctorate with distinction. The title of his doctoral thesis published in Greek is: “The Service of Holy Baptism: An Historical, Theological, and Liturgical Study.” In 1981, and simultaneously with his doctoral studies, His Beatitude earned a Diploma in Byzantine Music from the Conservatory of Byzantine Music in Thessaloniki, Greece.

His Eminence Metropolitan John Mansour of Lattakia ordained John Yazigi a deacon in 1979 and a priest in 1983. As priest he served in the Archdiocese of Lattakia. Since 1981, he taught courses on Liturgics at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand. During the periods of 1988-1991 and 2001-2005 he served as Dean of the Institute of Theology. In addition, he served as Abbot of St. George Al Humayrah Patriarchal Monastery in Syria. There he founded a monastic community and a school of ecclesiastic studies. He also served as the Abbot of the Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery in the years 2001-2005. His Beatitude is the spiritual father of the Convent of our Lady of Blemmana in Tartous, Syria.

In 1995, the Holy Synod of Antioch elected him as the Bishop of Pyrgou, an area called in Arabic Wadi An-Nasara or Al-Hosn. He served there till 2008 when he was elected by the Holy Synod as the Metropolitan of Europe. He was elected by the Holy Synod meeting in Balamand Monastery as Patriarch of Antioch and all the East on Monday December 17th, 2012.

In addition to his pastoral care in these parishes, he was involved in many worldwide activities at the ecumenical, Christian and especially Orthodox Christian spheres. He participated in many international conferences in Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Cyprus, United States of America, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

His Beatitude is distinguished by his ecclesiastic, national and ecumenical presence shown through his participation in many conferences, on the national and international levels. He is renowned for his clear vision, based on truth, and eagerness to find the best solutions for conflicts amongst parties. He is known by his compassionate and friendly character. He is a good listener, and a faithful steward for those in need.

Wherever he worked, His Beatitude proved to be a man of action and a good sower of the Word of God, seeking to reveal the beauty of the Spouse of Christ and making Her shiny and strong. He is known by his closeness to the Youth and his ability to involve them in the service of the church, their society and their nation. He is a good administrator, and a proven man who knows how to work with others and reinforce institutions. He played a leading role in Higher Education while he was Dean of the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology.

His Beatitude is the author of several books on theology, education, music, and liturgy. He published a series on liturgical studies. He edited the liturgical books of the Orthodox Church in Arabic, and more specifically the liturgical books of the archbishops, priests and deacons. In addition, he translated and wrote many articles, and gave many lectures in different universities, parishes and institutes.

Our Metropolitan

Metropolitan Saba

His Eminence, the Most Reverend Saba Isper is the Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. His Eminence leads and oversees the Archdiocese's parishes, missions, departments, institutions and organizations in the United States and Canada from the headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey. The auxiliary bishops aid him in his administration across the continent.

Metropolitan Saba was born in Latakia, Syria in 1959. He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Tishreen in Latakia, and a bachelor's degree in theology from the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology in Balamand. His Eminence is fluent in Arabic and English.

Prior to his election as Metropolitan of North America, His Eminence cofounded The Hauran Connection with the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America. This charitable project enhances Orthodoxy in this ancient Christian land in the face of strife. More than $1 million has been raised since 2007.

Developmental projects and charitable endowments for the Bosra Archdiocese under Metropolitan Saba include a medical clinic in As-Suwayda, dormitories for 150 university students in As-Suwayda and Daraa; 48 studios for retirees in The House of Love; the Bethany Spiritual Retreat Center in Kharaba; Bread for All that distributes food to the poor regardless of religion; ongoing agricultural projects; and The Good Samaritan, a multifaceted charitable organization for parishioners displaced or affected by the recent Syrian war.

His Eminence was ordained a priest in 1988 and elevated to the dignity of archimandrite in 1994. He pastored St. Michael the Archangel Church in the Archdiocese of Latakia until 1998. During that time, Metropolitan Saba edited and published the Orthodox Christian magazine Farah geared toward children and families.

In 1998, Metropolitan Saba was elected and consecrated as an auxiliary bishop to His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius IV of thrice-blessed memory. In 1999, His Beatitude and the Holy Synod of Antioch elected him as metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Bosra, Hauran and Jabal Al-Arab in Syria.

Simultaneously with his pastoral and episcopal duties, from 1995-2006, His Eminence served as instructor of Pastoral Care and Introduction to the Old Testament at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology in Balamand.

His Eminence established a publishing house in the Bosra Archdiocese, the Al-Arabiya magazine for adults, and continued issuing Farah for children. An English version has been produced since 2010. Metropolitan Saba authors weekly articles on his Facebook page and has written on various topics in Al-Noor, Patriarchal and Al Arabiya magazines. He has authored a number of books in pastoral life and theology.

Metropolitan Saba has also translated a number of titles from English to Arabic, including works by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev and Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko.

His Eminence's patron saint is St. Saba (Sabbas) the Sanctified, commemorated on Dec. 5.

Our Bishop

Bishop Nicholas was born in Damascus, Syria, in January 1963 to an Antiochian Orthodox family. He attended the French Lycée Laïque elementary and middle school, and the Omia High School. For the first 18 years of his life, he attended the Antiochian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Damascus.

In February 1981, Bishop Nicholas emigrated to the United States, where he began a course of study at Northeastern University. He earned several degrees, including Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Master of Science in Computer Engineering, and a Specialization Certificate in Object-Oriented Design, Architecture, and Coding. Bishop Nicholas worked for nearly 20 years as a Computer Engineer at several companies in the Electronics Design Automation industry, such as ViewLogic Systems and Synopsys Co. He was also promoted to the highest technical ranks as a Lead Software Architect, Principal Software Engineer, and Software Engineering Manager. He represented his companies to many conferences in Sweden, France, England, Germany, Italy, and USA, and also served as a lecturer in Electronics Circuitry, Circuit Theory, and Digital Computers at the Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA.

Bishop Nicholas also holds a Master of Divinity degree, awarded with Highest Distinction, from studies undertaken between September 2002 to May 2005 at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. He speaks Arabic and English fluently. His second language in Syria was French, which he had used, along with Hebrew, Ancient Greek, New Testament Greek, and Modern Greek, to conduct research on theological subjects.

Bishop Nicholas was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip on April 23, 2004, and to the Holy Priesthood by His Grace Bishop Antoun on January 9, 2005. Upon graduating from Holy Cross Seminary, he was assigned by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip to St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he served from August 2005 to December 2011. He was elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip on February 14, 2010, and was consecrated to the bishopric as the Bishop of Brooklyn on December 11, 2011 at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand, Balamand, Lebanon.

Bishop Nicholas has visited Mount Athos several times for contemplation and spiritual rejuvenation.

He served as Bishop of New York & Washington D.C. and as Assistant of Metropolitan Joseph until August of 2017 when, following the retirement of Bishop Antoun, he became the Bishop of Miami and the Southeast. We are blessed to have him as our archpastor; Many Blessed Years, Sayidna Nicholas!

Bishop Nicholas meets with his flock every Sunday afternoon via BAND: https://band.us/band/79085310

Our Priest

Fr. Anthony Perkins loves God and bringing healing, comfort, and joy to His people. He is thankful to His Grace, Bishop Nicholas, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba, and His Eminence Metropolitan Antony (UOC-USA) for their blessing to serve at Christ the Savior and to its faithful for all their love and support as he leads and ministers to them.

Fr. Anthony and Pani Matka Tina Marie met at First United Methodist Church in Riverdale, GA and were married there in 1990. In addition to being a wonderful wife, mother, and Pani Matka, Pani Tina works full-time as a senior scheduler for Williams Energy. They have four children; Olin Nicholas (b. 1995), Warren Zachariah (b. 2003), Helen Jay (b. 2005), and Claire Evangeline (b.2011). Fr. Anthony served as a lay leader, subdeacon, and deacon at St. Nicholas in Charlottesville, VA (2001-2007), the rector of St. Michael in Woonsocket, RI (2007-2015), as the rector of Pokrova in Allentown, PA (2015-2019), and as the founding priest and rector of Holy Resurrection Mission in Waynesville, NC (2019-2022). He began filling in part-time at Christ the Savior in August 2019, when he and his family moved to nearby Hartwell GA to take care of his family, and as the full-time priest in January of 2023. He has been a professor at St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Seminary since 2008.

Fr. Anthony has extensive teaching, academic, pastoral, and leadership experience, something he brings to bear in his service at Christ the Savior. In his free time, he enjoys listening to audiobooks and spending time with his family. He has two active podcasts: Made to Be a Kingdom (with Fr. Harry Linsinbigler for Ancient Faith Radio) and OrthoAnalytika. His CV is available at academia.edu.