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Bio
Fr Luke A. Veronis has been involved in the Orthodox missionary movement for the past 17 years. Together with his wife Presbytera Faith, he served as a long-term OCMC Missionary in Albania for the past ten and a half years. Albania was one of the most persecuted Communist countries of Eastern Europe, being the only country in the world to totally outlaw any form of religious expression, and the first country to proclaim itself totally atheistic.
During his tenure in Albania, Fr Luke taught at the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy, serving as its co-director from 1998-2003. More than 130 of the school’s graduates have become priests during the past decade. Fr Luke also had a special weekly outreach to students at the University of Tirana. Six judges now serving Albania’s higher courts are among his former students. The Veronises helped establish a vibrant youth movement around the country with a focus on the summer Church camp programs.
Prior to Albania, Fr Luke served in Africa as a short-term missionary in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana for eighteen months. He and African co-workers constructed five stone churches, a medical clinic, and mission house. He also led teaching and youth ministry teams to numerous villages.
His published works include the book Missionaries, Monks, and Martyrs: Making Disciples of All Nations, and articles in various missionary journals and books.
Fr Luke graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of World Mission in 1993 with a ThM (Masters of Theology in Missiology), Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 1992 with a Masters of Divinity (highest distinction), and Pennsylvania State University in 1987 with a BS in Secondary Education/Mathematics.
Fr Luke is presently pastoring the Sts Constantine and Helen Church in Webster, MA, while teaching mission classes at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and Hellenic College.
He and Presbytera Faith have four children.
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Visiting Lecturer in Missiology
- BS, Pennsylvania State University, 1987
- MDiv, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology, 1992
- ThM, Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Mission, 1993
Books & Articles
- Missionaries, Monks, Martyrs: Making Disciples of All Nations (Minneapolis, MN: Light and Life,
1994).
- “Eastern Orthodox Missions” The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2003).
- “Traditional Methods for Missions and Evangelism” The Greek Orthodox Theological Review, Vol. 42, Nos. 3-4 (1997).
- “Archbishop Anastasios, Modern-day Apostle” International Journal of Missionary Research, 1995.
Invited Presentations
- 2003, “Challenges of Modern Orthodox Missions,” Symposium on Orthodox Missions, St Vladimir’s Seminary.
- 2000, “Modern Orthodox Missions,” Conference on Christianity 2000: Future of Orthodoxy, Athens.
- 1997, “Words of Peace or Worlds at War: Religion, Hostility and Reconciliation in South Eastern Europe,” Conference on Culture and Reconciliation in South Eastern Europe, Thessaloniki.
- 1995 “Methods of Orthodox Missions,” 1st International Conference on Orthodox Missions, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
Church Experience
- Priest of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Webster, MA (2005-)
- Development Director for the Endowment Fund for Orthodox Missions (EFOM) (2005-)
- Adjunct Professor of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and St Vladimir’s Seminary (2005-)
- Consultant for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) (2005-)
- Missionary Priest in Albania under the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC)
- Academic Dean for Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy, Durres, Albania (1998-2003)
- Instructor for New Testament, Missiology, World Religion, Preaching (1994-2004)
- Spiritual Director for University of Tirana Student Ministry (1995-2004)
- Spiritual Director of National Youth Movement in Church of Albania (1994-1999)
- Editor of News from Orthodoxy in Albania (1996-2003)
- Preacher at Annunciation Cathedral in Tirana
- Fellow in Residence at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (2003).
- Lectures on missiology at Cambridge University’s Institute of Orthodox Studies (2003).
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