The Very Reverend David G. Barr was appointed pastor of St. Elias Orthodox Church in September, 2004. Father David was formerly the pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Ben Lomond (1998-2004) and Holy Resurrection Antiochian Orthodox Church in Tucson, Arizona (1989-1998).

A native Texan, Fr. David was born and raised in the Houston area. While attending Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma (double majors in Old Testament and New Testament), Father David became more and more frustrated with Protestant theology and practice. His studies began to point him towards Orthodox Christianity as the authentic Christian tradition as presented by Christ to the Apostles and from them to the early Church. He entered the Orthodox Church at St. Antony Antiochian Orthodox Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma in January, 1980 after a year's catechumenate.

That same year, Father David was blessed by Metropolitan PHILIP to attend St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York where he graduated magna cum laude in 1983.

Upon graduating from St. Vladimir's in 1983, then subdeacon David was assigned to organize what would become St. Anthony the Great Antiochian Orthodox Church in Spring, Texas. In late summer, 1984, he was then appointed to be the Director of the Department of Youth of the Antiochian Archdiocese, an office he held through December, 1988. He was ordained to the Diaconate by Metropolitan PHILIP in March, 1988 and to the Priesthood by Bishop ANTOUN, July 3, 1988.

Father David and his Khouria Luanne (Dunaway) were married in January, 1988. They have 2 children: Samuel (b. 1989) and Christina (b. 1992), three dogs (Shadow, Lucy and Bella) and one parakeet (Mario).

Father David serves as the Dean of the Central Texas Deanery, the President of the St. Vladimir's Seminary Alumni Association, and the Director of the St. Romanos Chanter's Training Program. He was the primary commentator of the Epistle to the Hebrews of the Orthodox Study Bible.

Fr. David Lewis (also known as Fr. Dave) was assigned to St. Elias in June , 2008 to be the first full time assistant pastor of our parish. 

Fr. David graduated from high School in Fort Worth, Texas and while attending Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas (BA philosophy, 1996) began looking for a Church to call home.  Through a variety of studies and experiences, Fr. David came to believe that true worship is centered on our Lord Jesus Christ as he offers himself in the Eucharist, and that the church is not something that we invent or reinvent, but is instead a treasure to be sought.  While working at a children’s home in 2000, a grace-filled encounter with an Orthodox colleague led him to visit an Orthodox parish in 1999 and he was received into the Orthodox Church in 2001at St. Peter’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Fort Worth Texas.  In 2005 he received the blessing of his Grace Bishop Basil and His Eminence Metropolitan Philip to attend St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York, where he graduated in May of 2008.

Fr. David was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Basil at the DOWAMA Parish Life conference June 2007 and to the Priesthood on June 24, 2007, also by his Grace Bishop Basil. 

Fr. David and his Khouria Shannon were married in June 2003.  They have two children, Irene (b. 2004) and Isabel (b. 2006).

Father Traian Buican is a retired priest from the Orthodox Patriarchate of Romania. He has been assisting and serving St. Elias for several years and we appreciate his ministry in our parish.

Father Traian and Preotessa Gina have three grown children and three grandchildren.

The Reverend Deacon Niketas Sanders has served as our parish deacon for the past several years.

Deacon Niketas is married to Shammasey Laura.