Our Priests

Fr. Theodore Ghaly was ordained as a priest on October 10, 2015 by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II in the presence of His Grace Bishop Youssef and other bishops. Fr. Theodore was born in Chicago and lived in Wisconsin until moving to Nashville for his ordination to the priesthood. He served in St. Pishoy Church in Antioch, Tennessee before Bishop Youssef asked him to establish the first all-English church in Nashville at St. Verena.

Fr. Theodore practiced as a dentist prior to his ordination to the priesthood and graduated from the St. Athanasius Theological Seminary in Titusville, Florida in 2010.

In his free time, Fr. Theodore enjoys spending time with his wife Mary and three children Naomi, Cyril and Ezra, keeping up with Chicago sports, and reading.

Fr. Elisha Soliman was ordained as a priest on November 22, 2020 by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef with other bishops in attendance. Fr. Elisha was born in New Jersey and lived there until his ordination to the priesthood, after which he first served in St. Mary Church in Atlanta, Georgia before beginning his ministry at St. Verena.

Prior to his ordination, Fr. Elisha worked as a program manager overseeing software development and change management initiatives in the investment banking world.

In his free time, Fr. Elisha enjoys spending time with his wife Monica and their three children Abigail, Jacob, and Gabriella. He enjoys hymns, reading, traveling, and sports, and has been a Real Madrid and New York sports fan since childhood.