Father Stephen (Lourie) was a New England Protestant in his formative years and wandered away from Christianity during high school. After committing his life to Christ in 1976, and after college and seminary, he began a journey that culminated in bringing his family into the Orthodox Church in 1991 at Eagle River, Alaska.

In 1994, after completing further studies at The Antiochian House of Studies, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Basil of Wichita at St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River. In 1996 he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Metropolitan Joseph of The Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. He served as an assistant priest until 2004, when he was transferred to St. George Orthodox Church in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

In 2013 he became the pastor of Holy Spirit Orthodox Church in Venice, Florida. Father Stephen and his wife, Matushka Nancy, have been married for over 40 years. They have four children and seven grandchildren.

Deacon Jim (Atty) has been part of Holy Spirit Orthodox Church since 2017. He completed the three-year St. Stephen’s course at the Antiochian Village from 2012 to 2014 and was ordained in September 2016.

Deacon Jim enjoys serving the church and reading the history of our Orthodox faith and the lives of the Saints. He loves to visit with parishioners and to help our youth move forward in their spiritual life.

Deacon Jim and his beloved wife Gwen live in Venice seasonally. When he is not serving the parish, he enjoys playing golf, exercising, collecting coins, and spending time with his two children and four granddaughters.