Fr. Michael (Scott) Gillis converted to Holy Orthodoxy in November 1996 together with a community of 85 people in San Dimas, California. This Four Square church community took a seven-year journey that involved gathering daily (at 6:00am) for prayer and that eventually led them to the doors of the Holy Orthodox Church. Because of his role in this community, Scott was ordained to the Holy Deaconate on the same day he was received into the Church.
After completing the St. Stephen course of study program, Dn. Michael continued his theological studies under the direct tutorage of Fr. Michel Najim, PhD, Dean of the Antiochian Cathedral in Los Angeles and former Dean of the St. John of Damascus School of Theology at the Balamand University in Lebanon. After serving as a deacon in Southern California for seven years, Dn. Michael was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 2003 by His Grace Bishop JOSEPH and assigned as pastor of Holy Nativity Orthodox Church in Langley, BC.
Fr. Michael has been married to Bonnie since 1979, and they have 3 married daughters and 10 grandchildren.
