Father Christopher Xanthos was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on November 1, 2014 at his home parish of the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Hempstead, New York. He then began serving at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Houston, Texas where he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on March 25, 2015 by His Eminence, Metropolitan ISAIAH of Denver.
Father Christopher grew up on Long Island, New York with his wonderful parents, four sisters, and a large extended family. His grandparents, immigrants from Constantinople and Mani, Greece, helped to instill in him a love of the Orthodox faith and Hellenic language and culture from a young age. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Cortland. While pursuing his undergraduate studies, he served as a United States Marine, deploying on two tours to Kuwait and Iraq in 2003 and 2005. Upon his second return from Iraq, he enrolled at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, earning his Master of Divinity in 2009. After graduating from the seminary, he worked for several years in youth ministry in both Denver, Colorado and Norfolk, Virginia. It was in Virginia where he met his wife, Presvytera Annabelle. The two were married in 2013. Whether exploring the Rocky Mountains or the Chesapeake Bay, Father Christopher has enjoyed experiencing the beauty of each place he has lived. He enjoys camping, hiking, sailing, horseback riding, skiing, and all manner of outdoor activities.
Presvytera Annabelle spent the first 25 years of her life in Virginia Beach, Virginia surrounded by the love of her parents and two older brothers. She feels blessed to have been guided by the strong faith of her father’s Greek parents as well as the beautiful example of her mother, who converted to Orthodoxy in 1981. She fondly remembers growing up in a church where services were held with a small group of families in the parish’s only building: the community center. The excitement of witnessing the community come together to expand and build a beautiful church left a lasting impression on her. Presvytera Annabelle graduated from the College of William and Mary with her bachelor’s degree in English and theatre in 2010. She has taught religious education at the Annunciation Orthodox School in Houston for the past two years. She enjoys reading, choral singing, working with children, teaching Sunday school, and spending time with her wonderful husband and their two very silly dogs. Father and Presvytera look forward to welcoming their first child this summer. It is their fervent prayer and hope that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will continue to bless the Holy Apostles parish and greater Cheyenne community.