Very Rev. Fr. Joseph C. Joseph Corepiscopa was born January 13, 1952, son of the late Paulose and Mariamma Joseph, a very religious Syrian Orthodox Christian family. Joseph was the middle child of seven, five sisters and one brother. He was baptized at St. Ignatius Dayara in Manjanikkara, India. His parents dedicated him to His Holiness Mar Ignatius Elias the III’s final resting place (“Kabarin Adeema Vetchu”). Fr. Joseph expressed much interest in the church and participated in many church functions including teaching Sunday school and being actively involved in various church programs. He also was the altar boy at his home parish in Kerala and the church in New Delhi, at which time he continued his theological studies. Fr. Joseph married Mariamma in 1975 and migrated to the United States in 1976.

When Fr. Joseph arrived in Texas, he realized there was a need for an established place of worship for Syrian Orthodox Christians. The Lord’s calling, fulfillment of a childhood dream, the request of Father John Jacob (presently H.G Yohannon Mor Philexinos Bishop of Malabar) and the encouragement of the people in Dallas and Houston, Fr. Joseph decided that he wanted to serve the Lord. By grace of God and the blessings of His Eminence Mor Athanasius Yesue Samuel, Fr. Joseph was ordained as a Priest on March 12, 1978 in Dallas, Texas. He organized and incorporated St. Ignatius in Dallas, Texas and St. Mary’s in Houston, Texas, serving as the first priest and vicar at both churches. Due to his employment transfer to Atlanta, Georgia and the need for a Syrian Orthodox Church in Metro Atlanta, he was able to organize St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church in Austell, Georgia in 1987 (presently Winder, Georgia). In the meantime, he assisted in formally organizing and establishing the St. George Syrian Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois.

On May 17, 2003, St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church celebrated Fr. Joseph's 25th Ordination Silver Jubilee. During the Holy Qurbana, His Beatitude Baselius Thomas I Catholicose of the East, His Eminence Dr. Yuhannon Mar Philexenos, and His Eminence Mathews Mar Ivanios blessed a golden cross chain, and His Beatitude presented the chain to Fr. Joseph for his dedicated service to the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese in North America for the past 25 years. On April 29, 2006, Fr. Joseph was elevated to Corepiscopo by His Eminence Yeldho Mor Titus, the archbishop of North America.

Fr. Joseph C. Joseph has dedicated his life to serving the Lord and emphasizes the importance of family. Although it is difficult to balance being a priest, father, and friend, he has excelled and done an exceptional job in each area. We at St. Mary’s Atlanta are blessed to have Rev. Fr. Joseph C. Joseph as our priest and vicar. The growth of the church is a reflection of his devotion, hard work, and enthusiasm towards the Syrian Orthodox faith. He strives to help others and guides those who are in need of his services. His honesty and kindheartedness makes Father Joseph a wonderful person to know and love. .