Clergy & Leadership

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” Jn 11:26 “I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man…

As a parish of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church and its members are under the national leadership of: The Most Blessed Tikhon (Mollard) Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada was born in 1966, the eldest of three children born to Francois and Elizabeth Mollard. After brief periods living in Connecticut, France, and Missouri, he and his family settled in Reading, PA, where…

As a parish in the OCA’s Diocese of the West, St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church and its members are under the diocesan care and leadership of: The Most Reverend Benjamin (Peterson) Archbishop of San Francisco and the West Archbishop Benjamin was born in 1954 and was baptized and chrismated at Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA on April 27, 1972.  In 1982, he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree and Certificate in Liturgical Music from Saint Vladimir…

The Reverend Father Andre Paez Rector, St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church Fr. Andre is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. He and his wife Matushka Samantha bring a rich cultural and educational background to the mission. Fr. Andre’s parents moved to the United States from Colombia, South America, and Mat. Samantha’s parents are of Lebanese heritage. As such, they have each benefited from the rich traditions of two diverse cultures. They have four children. Fr. Andre earned a BS Degree from Pepperdine…

Matushka Samantha Anna Paez Mat. Samantha pioneered the establishment of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) program at St. John after learning about it at a seminary wives’ group. She is currently serving as Director of CGS and a Level Two catechist. She is actively working with the St. John catechist team to implement all four levels of this rich program by adding Toddler and Level Three atriums (prepared environments) in addition to the Level One and Level Two…