he was ordained to the diaconate while a student in salonica, in december, 1976. subsequently, he was ordained to the priesthood by patriarch ignatius iv, at st. mary cathedral in damascus in december, 1980. as a deacon, he served parishes in salonica. as a priest, he was dean of st. mary cathedral of damascus, and overseer of the holy cross church and other parishes in the suburbs of damascus. in 1983, he pastored the arab orthodox followers living in london, england, and in 1986 the arab orthodox community living in cyprus.