Metropolis of San Francisco Shrine

An Inspiration for those who study & serve - Rev. Father Demetrius T. Dogias of Blessed Memory

Rev. Father Demetrius T. Dogias was born on March 9, 1939, in Elizabeth, NJ, and was raised in Poughkeepsie, NY. He fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, February 4, 2013, the Third Day of the Presentation of our Lord to the Temple.

Ordained into the Holy Priesthood of the Orthodox Church in Troy, NY, on 10 March 1963 by His Eminence Metropolitan Germanos Polyzoides, Father served in several Parishes: 1963-65 at St. Paul’s, Hempstead, NY (as an assistant); 1965-68 at St. George, Oklahoma City, OK; 1968-71 at Assumption, Danbury, CT; 1971-74 at Sts. Constantine and Helen, Washington, DC (assistant); 1974-81 at St. George, Albuquerque, NM; and finally 1981-2006 at Annunciation of Sacramento.

In 1974 Father was granted the title of Father Confessor, and in 1975, that of Stavrofor Economos. And in June 1988, marking his Silver Anniversary in the Holy Priesthood, he received the highest honor for a married Orthodox priest, that of “Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople.

Following his retirement, he also served as interim Dean of the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Honolulu, HI, 2007-2008. During his retirement, he also assisted in Stockton, Modesto, San Francisco, Castro Valley, Salinas, El Cajon, San Diego, CA, Reno, NV, and Albuquerque, NM. Much of his time though was spent with us in prayer, fellowship, and study.

We remain blessed to call Father Demetri our founder and our priest. He remains a fervent intercessor and an inspiration for each and every student from our Parish who studies theology and serves Christ.

In Support of our Theological Students

The Parish of St. Anna is blessed to have two endowed scholarships for our theological students:

• FATHER DOGIAS ENDOWED SEMINARIAN FUND – This Scholarship is for a Steward of Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church on the Seminarian track at Hellenic College or applying to or enrolled in a Masters of Divinity program at an Orthodox Seminary with the intent of being ordained to the Deaconate or Priesthood of the Orthodox Church.

• THE KANTARGIS/KYPRIDAKIS ENDOWED THEOLOGICAL FUND – This Scholarship is to provide scholarships for 2 or 4-year accredited degree programs to students studying Orthodox Christian theology with the intent of using their education to further spread and support Orthodox Christianity or to students attending an accredited Orthodox Christian Seminary or Theological School with the intention of completing a Masters or doctorate degree for the purposes of preparing for ordination, tonsuring, mission work, youth work, or chanting and music ministry.

For more information, please contact the Church Office.

Current Saint Anna students studying theology

Jessica is a distinguished 2016 graduate of William Jessup University with a double major in Bible/Theology and History as well as a minor in Archeology. In 2016 she attended the Summer Session of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and then continued her studies in Greek and Hebrew. In the fall of 2017, she began her graduate studies at Yale Divinity School, focusing primarily on the early Church. In the winter of 2019, having completed her catechetical studies at the Parish of St. Barbara in Orange, Connecticut, Jessica was received into the Orthodox Church, taking the name Theophania Elizabeth here at St. Anna Parish. She is a 2019 graduate of Yale Divinity School with a Master of Arts in Religion with a concentration in the history of Christianity.

In the summer of 2024, Jessica took part in her archaeological dig in Israel, supervising the excavation of a 6th-century church near Galilee. She is pursuing her doctoral studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Jessica has refined her area of interest to liturgical studies in late antiquity.  Specifically, she hopes to research baptismal and burial practices in Eastern Christianity in the Liturgical Studies/Sacramental Theology program.

students from our parish who have studied theology with our Prayers & support

Kyle Sterner (Holy Cross, 2023)

Kyle Sterner was born and raised in Pennsylvania and chrismated with the baptismal name of Dionysius (after St. Denis of Paris). He has served six years in the United States Air Force, working in the field of military intelligence and completing service in 2016. In the Spring of 2018, he graduated Hellenic College with his Bachelor's in Religious Studies. After completing his first year of his Mdiv studies at Holy Cross, Kyle spent two years studying at the Hebrew University for a Masters Degree in Semitic Studies (2021). He returned to Holy Cross and completed his graduate degree in 2023. Kyle plans to pursue doctoral studies focusing on the Old Testament.

Rev Fr. PETER DOGIAS (HOLY CROSS, '19)

Peter Dogias, the son of Rev. Fr. Demetrius, of blessed memory and Presvytera Eleftheria, is married to Dimitra Alexopoulou Dogias and is the father of one beautiful daughter Varvara. Peter graduated from Hellenic College (BA, Religious Studies) in May 2016 and graduated from Holy Cross with his MDiv in the Spring of 2019. While on campus, he served as a student intern at the Office of the President, at Hellenic College/Holy Cross, and as the Holy Cross chapel ecclesiarch.

Ordained to the Holy Diaconate and Priesthood at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in the February 2019, the parish that which his father of blessed memory served for so many years, Rev. Fr. Peter will serve as the Second Priest at the Parish of St. Katherine in Redondo Beach.

Dimitra is currently employed by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America with the Department of Religious Education.

KEVIN MELLIS (HOLY CROSS, 2018) 

Kevin Mellis was born in San Francisco, and grew up there and in Los Angeles, where he moved with his family. He grew up in the Orthodox Church, and discerned a calling to service in the Church at a young age. His studies have been wide and varying, from vocal performance to mathematics to natural philosophy. Kevin completed his studies with an M.Div (non ordination track) in 2018.

Rev. fr. Seraphim IVEY (HOLY CROSS, 2017)

Jason Ivey was born and raised in the small Gold Rush-era town of Grass Valley, California. He graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy from Cowell College, University of California at Santa Cruz, in the fall of 1998. In the spring of 2008, he graduated with a multiple subject, elementary school teaching certificate from the California State University of Sacramento. In fall 2013, Jason was admitted and started attending Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary. In July 2015, Jason married his wife, Renee, and moved to Redondo Beach, where he spent his vacations from school with her, exploring Southern California and spending as much time in the ocean as possible. Upon graduating from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in spring 2017, Jason and Renee relocated to Redondo Beach. In January 2018, Jason began his ministry at St. Anna Parish as a Pastoral Assistant. Ordained to the Holy Diaconate and Holy Priesthood at our Parish, he served Saint Anna PArish as the Second Priest through 2024.

Jennifer Rice (Holy Cross, 2016) 

During the summers of 2014 and 2015, Jennifer Rice participated in several short term mission teams offered through the Orthodox Christian Mission Center which assisted in discerning her call to serve the church as a missionary upon graduation from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Jennifer partnered with the newly Orthodox faithful in Guatemala in the pioneering efforts of the first music ministry mission team sent to offer catechetical instruction on the hymns of the church. She was fortunate to return the following summer to collaborate with local communities by assisting in the renovation of a building into a future medical clinic in an ongoing effort by the Orthodox Church in Guatemala to tend to both the bodies and souls in the communities she serves. Jennifer is appreciative of these opportunities as well as the blessing to continue to serve in a long term capacity with the Orthodox Church in Guatemala by drawing on her experience and love for singing the hymns of the church. Jennifer has been very grateful for your prayers, enthusiastic encouragement, and support in sending her on behalf of St. Anna’s to serve the Church.

While attending Holy Cross, Jennifer also completed coursework towards a certificate from the Boston Theological Institute in Missions and Ecumenism. In addition to her studies, Jennifer served as President of the Missions Committee, assisted in the Office of Student Life, tutored students in the campus Writing Center, and was a staff member for the CrossRoad Institute.

Jennifer also holds a Master of Science degree in Higher Education from Drexel University, as well as a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a Bachelors of Art in Studio Art from California State University, Sacramento. Prior to attending Holy Cross School of Theology, Jennifer assisted in many facets of the youth and young adult ministries and was involved in the chanting of the services at St. Anna’s in addition to her responsibilities as a high school English teacher. Jennifer served as a long term missionary through the Orthodox Christian Mission Center in Guatemala.

Rev Fr. Nicholas Mueller (Holy Cross, 2015)

Rev Dn Nicholas Mueller is a 2015 graduate of the Masters of Divinity program at Holy Cross and a Roseville native. He grew up serving in the altar at St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, and participating in GOYA. The loving formation he received at St. Anna's eventually guided him to enroll at Holy Cross after completing his undergraduate studies in English Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. As a seminarian he particularly enjoyed field work in prison and elder ministry and exegesis courses. He is deeply thankful for the support of the St. Anna's community, his brother seminarians and fellow students at Holy Cross and Hellenic College, and the San Francisco Metropolis in his studies and formation. Deacon Nicholas currently works at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Religious Education which is based on the Holy Cross campus, and hopes to pursue further studies in social work and clinical pastoral care. He and his wife Dena currently live in Somerville, MA, where Dena continues her doctoral studies in English Literature at Harvard University.

Deacon Nicholas was ordained on Sunday, December 18, at the Parish of St. Anna by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco.  Photos from this blessed day are available at: http://andrewandbethanyphoto.pass.us/deacon-nicholas-ordination/ 

On July 25, 2017, Dn. Nicholas was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at St. Anna Parish and was assigned to the Parish of the Holy Archangels in Watertown, MA. He currently serves Holy Ascension Cathedral in Oakland, CA as the second priest.

Rev. Fr.Christian Burkhard (Holy Cross, 2014)

Christian Burkhard grew up in the foothill town of Auburn, California, and attended the Parish of Saint Anna’s. He completed his undergraduate degree in Religious Studies at Hellenic College in 2012 and graduated with his Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in May of 2014. He was involved in various field placement programs while in seminary, including; short-term missions, youth and young adult ministries, hospital ministry, and prison ministry. The experiences gained there has been a source of lasting inspiration and have greatly shaped him and his faith.

Since graduating, Christian has been working as the Pastoral Assistant and Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at Saint George Greek Orthodox in Fresno California, under the guidance of Fr. Jim Pappas. Serving the Parish of Saint George has been wonderful and has afforded Christian the opportunity to continue on in prison ministry at California State Prison, Corcoran. While Fresno has become his new home, Christian enjoys visiting his parish family of Saint Anna’s and is forever grateful for their love and support which continues to show him. In addition to his ministry and studies, Christian enjoys the outdoors, God’s creation, and spending time with his wife Maria.

By the Grace of God and through the laying on of hands by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, Christian was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on September 8, 2019, at the Parish of St. Anna. He was then ordained to the Holy Priesthood at the Church of St. George where he serves as the second priest.