Father Michael Sorial has served as our priest and pastor since St. Anianus launched in central New Jersey in 2013. His teaching style encourages the faithful to apply the ancient Christian faith into their everyday life.
Prior to ordination, he graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelors in Biology with a Minor in Business and went on to serve as US Director of Sales and Marketing for a UK-based Biotech company. Ordained as a priest in the Coptic Orthodox Church in 2005, Fr. Michael served for 8 years in Queens, NY prior to establishing St. Anianus Church – a multi-cultural Coptic Orthodox Christian parish – in central New Jersey. In addition, he is co-founder and Chancellor of the Agora University and serves the Office of Public Relations for the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America.
His educational journey continued after ordination as he holds a Master of Divinity from the Coptic Orthodox Seminary, a Master of Letters degree from the University of St. Andrews, completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Theology and Practice from the University of Winchester, and is currently pursuing his doctorate at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
He has published “Incarnational Exodus,” a book that focuses on Orthodox Ecclesiology, the incarnational theology of St. Athanasius of Alexandria, and the intersectionality with culture. During the height of the COVID lockdowns in May 2020, Fr. Michael also published “Church Life in a Coronavirus World,” a book that looks at how the Church has responded to various plagues, famines, and periods of persecution throughout history.
Father Michael believes that his marriage to his wife Mora in 2003 – along with their 3 beautiful children – are gifts from God that allow him to grow in his own walk as a disciple of Jesus Christ, while at the same time using those real life experiences to help connect the Gospel to those he serves.
___________________________________________________________
Access all of Father Michael’s messages free of charge
Follow Father Michael and St. Anianus Church: