Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Chamoun
Fr. Joseph Chamoun was born in Hassaka, Syria on May 28, 1975, the oldest son of Daniel and Ghariba Chamoun. At the age of eight, with the help and guidance of his grandfather the late Youssef Chamoun, Joseph became an altar boy. Attending the daily morning and evening prayers, during the summer months, became a routine, and with his grandfather’s encouragement, he gradually started to participate in the prayers, readings and the singing of solo parts on the Holy Altar. In addition, at this young age, his love for liturgical music, raised his interest in methodically learning the melodic structures of the tunes (maqamat), which would prove extremely beneficial in mastering the church improvised tunes and melodies.
On Sunday January 12, 1986, at the age of eleven, Joseph was ordained a Reader by His Eminence Mor Osthatheos Quryaqos at St. George’s Cathedral in Hassaka, Syria. Joseph would continue to attend the Holy Liturgy on Sundays, feast days, and sometimes on Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as attending daily evening prayers.
As a young boy, Joseph felt that the Lord God selected and chose him to be a deacon and servant in His Holy Church. After receiving his high school diploma, Joseph continued his studies at the Law University of Aleppo, Syria.
In the summer of 1994, young Joseph experienced the calling to the priesthood. At that point, he decided to completely give his time, talents and abilities to the Lord. He changed his field of study and on September 5, 1994, joined the Mor Ephraim’s Theological Seminary in Damascus, Syria.
On Sunday March 12, 1995, the cleric Joseph was ordained a Sub-deacon by His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas at St. George’s Cathedral in Damascus, Syria. On February 1998, upon graduating from St. Ephraims’s Theological Seminary and completing his studies, Joseph had been chosen by His Eminence Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim (His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem I) to be a servant and priest in the Diocese of the Eastern United States.
On April 20, 1998, Joseph was engaged to Ms. Arij Abdulmasih Chabo and on June 5 of the same year, they were joined in holy matrimony.
On August 15, 1998 and on the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the cleric Joseph was ordained an Evangelist Deacon by His Eminence Mor Osthatheos Matta Rohum at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Hassaka, Syria and on September 20, 1998, Deacon Joseph was ordained as a priest by His Eminence Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim at St. George’s Cathedral in Hassaka, Syria.
Fr. Joseph with his wife, Arij, arrived in the United States on October 3, 1998, and on October 10, Fr. Joseph celebrated his first Holy Liturgy at St. Mary’s Church in Worcester, MA in the presence of H. E. Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim and H. E. Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim. Also in attendance were several members of the clergy, deacons and many faithful from the New England area.
The Lord has blessed Fr. Joseph and his wife, Arij, with three children, Daniel; born on March 18, 1999, Maryrose; born on January 23, 2002 and Aphraim; born on July 22, 2011.
On August 2009, after serving as pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Worcester, MA for eleven consecutive years, Fr. Joseph was transferred to serve at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Teaneck, NJ as an assistant pastor. On January 2011, after serving in that capacity for year and a half, and upon Fr. Meno’s official retirement, Fr. Joseph was officially designated as the Cathedral Pastor.
On August 11, 2013 Fr. Joseph was elevated to the rank of Chorepiscopus by His Eminence Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Teaneck, NJ. In the presence of H. E. Mor Dionysius John Kawak. Also in attendance were several members of the clergy, deacons and many faithful of the Eastern Archdiocese.