Diocese of Miami and the Southeast
His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS
Bishop of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast
His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS has served the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast since October 2017, providing spiritual leadership to DOMSE parishes, missions, clergy, ministries, and faithful throughout the Southeast.
Early Life & Education
Bishop NICHOLAS was born in Damascus, Syria, in January 1963 into an Antiochian Orthodox family. During the first eighteen years of his life, he worshipped at the Antiochian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Damascus.
In February 1981, he emigrated to the United States and began his studies at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. His academic accomplishments include:
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering
- Specialization Certificate in Object-Oriented Design, Architecture, and Coding
He also attended numerous professional engineering conferences and pursued additional study in psychology and human behavior.
Professional Career
Before entering full-time service to the Church, Bishop NICHOLAS worked for nearly twenty years as a computer engineer in the Electronic Design Automation industry, including work with Synopsys. During his engineering career, he advanced through senior technical and management positions, including Lead Software Architect, Principal Software Engineer, and Software Engineering Manager.
His professional responsibilities took him to conferences in Sweden, France, England, Germany, Italy, and the United States. He also taught Electronics Circuitry, Circuit Theory, and Digital Computers at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.
Theological Education & Languages
Bishop NICHOLAS earned a Master of Divinity degree with Highest Distinction from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, completing his studies between September 2002 and May 2005.
He speaks, reads, and writes Arabic and English fluently. His theological studies and research have also drawn upon French, Hebrew, Ancient Greek, New Testament Greek, and Modern Greek.
A Call to Serve the Church
When called to serve Christ’s Church and the Patriarchate of Antioch through the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, Bishop NICHOLAS left his successful engineering career to devote himself fully to the service of the Church.
From 2000 through 2019, Bishop NICHOLAS made annual visits to Mount Athos for spiritual rejuvenation, contemplation, and the safeguarding of his monastic vows.
Service at the Archdiocese Headquarters
From January 2012 through October 2017, Bishop NICHOLAS served at the Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey. He served as Assistant to Metropolitan Philip and Metropolitan Joseph, Bishop of Brooklyn, and Bishop of the Diocese of New York and Washington, D.C.
Among his responsibilities and areas of service during those years were:
- Bishop of the Diocese of New York and Washington, D.C.
- Management of the Archdiocesan office when the Metropolitan was away
- Representation of the Metropolitan at Archdiocesan and external events
- Chairman of the Archdiocesan Ordination Review Board
- Recommendations regarding clergy appointments and transfers
- Oversight of seminarians, their assignments, and parish performance
- Assistance in resolving Archdiocesan issues involving clergy, parish councils, and parishioners
- Service on the Archdiocesan Finance Committee
- Oversight of Clergy Insurance and Benefits
- Oversight of Missions and Evangelism
- Oversight of Internet Ministry
- Oversight of Publications
- Advisor to the Symposium Committee
- Review and recommendations concerning amended parish constitutions
- Participation in bishops’ meetings and meetings of the Archdiocesan Board of Trustees
- Translation for the Metropolitan among Arabic, English, and French
- Weekly spiritual retreats for adults, teenagers, and children in the Diocese of New York and Washington, D.C.
- Spiritual Father of the Convent of St. Thekla in Glenville, Pennsylvania
Serving the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast
Bishop NICHOLAS was appointed to serve the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast in October 2017. The biography records that the Diocese grew from 36 churches and missions to 41 churches and missions across nine states during his episcopal leadership.
Pastoral visitation has been central to his ministry. He has regularly visited DOMSE parishes to conduct spiritual retreats and meet personally with clergy and parishioners, attending to their spiritual and individual needs.
The Spiritual Vision
Growing Daily in the Likeness of God
Orthodox spirituality, faith, ethos, and way of life are central to Bishop NICHOLAS’ episcopal ministry. He has encouraged the faithful to pursue daily spiritual growth toward becoming more God-like.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18
In this vision, diocesan ministries, retreats, and activities serve the larger purpose of spiritual transformation: responding to humanity’s God-given creation in His image and gradually acquiring His likeness through virtue, freedom from worldly passions and harmful habits, and life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and an experienced spiritual father.
Bishop NICHOLAS also serves as spiritual father to several hundred spiritual children, guiding them in their spiritual lives.
Building the Life & Ministries of DOMSE
Drawing upon both his engineering background and episcopal experience, Bishop NICHOLAS has worked to establish an enduring administrative structure within DOMSE to support the spiritual vision of the Diocese.
Today, the ministries and leadership organizations of the Diocese can be explored throughout DOMSE.org.
Retreats, Formation & Pastoral Life
Bishop NICHOLAS introduced and strengthened a number of diocesan spiritual traditions, including the annual DOMSE Fall Retreat, Clergy Retreat, and Winter Retreat. The Parish Life Conference schedule was also reshaped to place greater emphasis on the Diocese’s spiritual direction.
The biography also highlights Bible studies and Lenten retreats serving Antiochian Men, Antiochian Women, Young Adults, Teen SOYO, and Religious Education, together with parish retreats conducted during Bishop NICHOLAS’ pastoral visits.
Investing in Future Generations
Bishop NICHOLAS expanded opportunities for the young people of DOMSE, including Camp St. Thekla’s summer ministry and its Winter Camp, known affectionately by the teens as WAMP. Camp administration and finance committees were appointed to strengthen organization, stewardship, and the spiritual experience offered to DOMSE youth.
In 2021, Bishop NICHOLAS established the DOMSE Scholarship for graduating high-school seniors accepted to college.
In October 2021, he also established the DOMSE newsletter, The Light, providing spiritual articles, diocesan news and events, and introductions to DOMSE churches, missions, ministries, and people.
Pastoral Ministry
Through parish visits, retreats, personal spiritual guidance, diocesan ministries, and administrative leadership, Bishop NICHOLAS continues to emphasize personal relationships with the clergy and faithful entrusted to his care and the spiritual growth of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast.
