Fr. Joseph Arsanious was born in Kuwait in 1982 and moved to the United States in 2000 with his parents and siblings to complete his college education. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering in 2004 and later obtained a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 2007. Before entering full-time ministry, Fr. Joseph had a successful career as a Software Engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in medical device development, where he contributed to multiple innovations and held over six patents.

On October 10, 2018, by the grace of God, Fr. Joseph was ordained a priest at the altar of St. Mary and St. John Coptic Orthodox Church in Pleasanton, California, by the hands of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. Since then, he has devoted his ministry to serving the people of God with a deep passion for pastoral care and spiritual counseling, particularly for adults and couples. To further equip himself for this service, Fr. Joseph pursued additional education in counseling at California State University, East Bay, and graduated in May 2024. He also earned a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Theological School in Los Angeles in May 2024.

In November 2024, Fr. Joseph moved to the Diocese of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, under the care of His Grace Bishop Saraphim, to continue his ministry at St. Mark | St. Mary & St. Philopater Church in Troy, Michigan.

Ministry and Service

Fr. Joseph is deeply committed to various aspects of ministry, including:
• Counseling & Family Ministry: With a strong passion for counseling, he leads pre-marital programs and counseling seminars, providing spiritual and practical guidance to couples preparing for marriage. Being a devoted husband and father of three, he strongly values the role of family in fostering a Christ-centered and fulfilling life.
• Children’s Ministry: Fr. Joseph actively works to increase awareness of the Orthodox faith among children by developing educational liturgies and engaging programs tailored to help children understand and experience the richness of the Orthodox Church.
• Evangelism & Catechism: Passionate about evangelism, he creates catechism programs to educate those new to the faith, helping them integrate into the life of the Church while strengthening their understanding of Orthodox teachings.

Fr. Joseph continues to serve with dedication, striving to provide spiritual guidance, theological education, and pastoral counseling to his community, always with a pastoral heart and a deep love for Christ and His Church.