Nice to Meet Ya: Fr. Jeremiah Phillips

The Orthodox religion is an ancient Christian religion, steeped in with rituals that honor the glory of God. If one is not familiar with the religion, it is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with most followers from Eastern Europe.

Like Catholicism, it has priests and bishops and patriarchs, but there is no pope and some priests are married before they were ordained, and bishops are celibate.

St. Sophia Orthodox Church in Dripping Springs has welcomed a new pastor, Fr. Jeremiah Phillips. He is married and has four children. “There’s been a lot more noise in the church since we got here. People have loved it so far, having little kids in church,” Fr. Jeremiah said.

The small church was without a pastor. “In June there was no priest… the community had to convince the archdiocese they could support a priest full time. Assignments are for life, that’s what the bishop tells us. I’m in for the long haul.”

Becoming an Orthodox priest is a long way from being raised on the West Coast and a Protestant. “Southern California and the West Coast in general are a lot more open.” He went to high school at Martin Luther High School and attended a small college, California Baptist University. Growing up, he was into “skateboards and bikes… baseball and basketball” but, as he got older, he also felt a need to grow deeper in faith.

“Spring semester of my junior year I took a course, Cross and Crescent, the history of Christianity and Islam, the rise of Islam.” The professor of the course, though not on the religious staff, but history rather, was an Orthodox priest. Orthodoxy came into the course, as it is a Middle Eastern religion.

“After class I met with the professor and shared my interest with the Orthodox Church. I had conversations with friends who were Orthodox, too.” He attended services and being raised Protestant, he was unprepared for the service.

“It was exotic at first with incense, but there seemed to be a more explicit focus… it is not about anyone, it is about God.”

He got married, entered the seminary, and in 2015 received his Master of Divinity. In 2018, he was assigned as an assistant at the St. George Cathedral in Wichita, Kansas.

“Coming from Wichita, one of the biggest little cities in the country, I was not sure what to expect. On 290 driving into Dripping Springs, where do the people live? Not on 290… where are the houses and buildings? Being here has been nice and a blessing in many ways. It’s quiet, people living the country life, laid back and relaxed, my favorite speed.”

Sunday services try to be as normal as possible, “with some masks, some not. We’re trying to live as normally as possible as a church.” The church also livestreams services.

The pandemic is something that worries everyone. “These are turbulent times, People are looking for something more substantial. I’ll be here for those people. That’s part of my job, to be here for whoever comes through the doors.”