Ordination as Priest and Establishment of Parishes: 
When Joseph arrived in Texas, he realized there was a need for an established place of worship for Syrian Orthodox Christians. The Lord’s calling, fulfillment of a childhood dream, the request of Father John Jacob (presently H.G Yohannon Mar Philexinos Bishop of Malabar) and the encouragement of the people in Dallas and Houston, Joseph decided that he wanted to serve the Lord. By grace of God and the blessings of His Eminence Mar Athanasius Yesue Samuel, Joseph was ordained as a Priest on March 12, 1978 in Dallas, Texas. He organized and incorporated St. Ignatius in Dallas, Texas and St. Mary’s in Houston, Texas, serving as the first priest and vicar at both churches. Today the St. Mary’s Houston has grown to two churches (Syrian Orthodox and Knanaya) and the St. Ignatius Dallas to three churches (St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church, St. Ignatius Syrian Orthodox Church, and St. Thomas Knanaya Church). Due to his employment transfer to Atlanta and the need for a Syrian Orthodox Church in Metro Atlanta, he was able to organize St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church in Austell, Georgia in 1987. In the meantime, he assisted in formally organizing and establishing the St. George Syrian Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois.  On May 17, 2003, St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church celebrated Fr. Joseph's 25th Ordination Silver Jubilee.  During the Holy Qurbana, His Beatitude Baselius Thomas I Catholicose of the East, His Eminence Dr. Yuhannon Mar Philexenos, and His Eminence Mathews Mar Ivanios blessed a golden cross chain, and His Beatitude presented the chain to Fr. Joseph for his dedicated service to the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese in North America for the past 25 years.  Our church is proud to have the first achen who has completed 25 consecutive years as a priest in the Syrian Orthodox North American diocese .

                 

Sub-deacon with His Eminence 

                                       

Joseph Chemachen

                        

Ordination As Priest

  

Newly Ordained Priest with His Eminence

 

His Beatitude Baselius Thomas I the Catholicose Of the East , His Eminence Dr. Yuhannon Mar Philexenos,

and His Eminence Mathews Mar Ivanios Blessing the cross chain.

 

His Beatitude the Catholicose placing the cross chain on Fr. Joseph