 Father Lucas Christensen, son of S. Mark and Leesha Christensen, was born in Beulah, ND and raised in Burlington, IA, Gillette, and Casper, WY. He graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Theology. In summer of 2004, he completed the certificate at the International Academy of Apologetics and Human Rights at the Université de Strasbourg, Alsace, France. He worked as an administrator at Indiana University's main campus in Bloomington, IN from 2007-2013. While living in Bloomington, he worked with the local parish, All Saints Orthodox Church, assisting with Sunday school, youth group, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, nursing home ministry, inquirer catechesis, adult education, chant and choir, and altar service.
He enrolled at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in fall of 2013. He served as Teacher's Assistant both for Rev. Dr. Eugen Pentiuc in Old Testament, and for Dr. Evie Zachariades-Holmberg in New Testament Greek. In September of 2015, his senior exegesis paper on Mark 4:1-9 was selected by the Theology faculty as first in the graduating class. He was ordained to the Diaconate on 27 March 2016 by the hand of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Ann Arbor, MI. He graduated as Valedictorian of the class of 2016 with a Master of Divinity, Summa cum Laude. Immediately after graduation, he assisted with the composition of the broadcast commentary for the Great and Holy Council in Crete of June 2016. On 19 September 2016, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Carmel, Indiana, where he is now serving as Assistant Priest. Father Lucas was married to Stacey Christensen (née Finke), daughter of Dr. And Mrs. Roger Finke in August of 2003. They have two children, Theodore and Genevieve. |