Very Reverend Father David Barr

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Literature from Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, OK, 1979

• Master of Divinity from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY, 1983

 

A native Texan, Father 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’s 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.

 

That same year, Fr. 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 appointed as 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. He was elevated to Archpriest in July 1998 by Metropolitan Joseph.

 

Fr. David and Kh. Luanne (Dunaway) were married in January, 1988. They have two children, Samuel and Christina.

 

Father David serves as the Dean of the Central Texas Deanery, the Vice Chairman of the Department of Inter-Orthodox and Inter-Faith Affairs for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, 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.

 

Getting to know Father David:

• His two animal children are dogs Bailey Mae and Bella

• He enjoys woodworking and making wine

• A favorite Bible story: the story of Lazarus, a beautiful story of grace and redemption