Fr. George Sharonoff (Rector)
Fr. George, our Rector, is a graduate of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary (B.A. and M.Div.) and served as Deacon and Subdeacon previously at our mission. He was ordained to the priesthood on Sept. 2/Sept. 15 7528 (2019) at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, by Bishop Luke. Fr. George is descended from White Army exiles from Communism in the post-Revolution Russian emigre community of Harbin in China. He grew up in Russian-American communities in northern California, including on the Russian River. His Matushka, Anna Sharonoff, is a professional musician who helps develop our mission's choir.
Fr. Paul Siewers
Father Paul Siewers, Ph.D. was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Luke of Holy Trinity Monastery, in 2023. Before that, he had been mission Deacon since 2020, and earlier Reader and then Subdeacon, and founding Warden. He is a graduate of the St. John of Kronstadt Pastoral School of the ROCOR Archdiocese of Chicago. Former Urban Affairs writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, he is faculty adviser to the Orthodox Christian community at Bucknell University, where he also is Associate Professor of Literature and teaches and publishes on topics related to Christian literature. He facilitates the Orthodox community Bible study in Lewisburg. He lives with his wife Matushka Olga and their sons in Lewisburg, and blogs at ecosemiotics.com.
Phone: (570)863-9039
Email: frpauls@pm.me
Heiromonk Claude Vinyard (Retired)
Our Rector Emeritus, Heiromonk Claude Vinyard is a long-time Orthodox priest, who, prior to becoming founding pastor of our mission, served a number of historic Orthodox parishes in Pennsylvania's coal region and elsewhere, including parishes in Mount Carmel and Centralia. His involvement in the parish renewal effort at Christ the Savior Church in Sugar Notch, PA, led directly to establishment of the mission in Lewisburg. A native of Flint, MI, he is a graduate of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary, a former railroad conductor, U.S. Navy veteran, and former VA Hospital Chaplain. In honor of service to the Russian Orthodox Church he is blessed to wear a double Cross.
