Fr. Anthony Cook

Fr. Anthony Cook was born in Flagstaff, AZ in 1981. The eldest of eight children, he was educated at home through high school and came to Michigan for college. He attended Hillsdale College and received his B.A. in Classical Studies with Departmental Honors. He converted to the Orthodox faith in 2001, and upon his graduation from Hillsdale College he received the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit to attend Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He received his Master of Divinity degree in 2007 with academic honors, and was ordained to the priesthood July 29th of that year by Metropolitan Nicholas.

Fr. Anthony is married to Presvytera Elisabeth, and they are blessed with two sons, Justin and Demetrios. Presvytera Elisabeth is a homemaker and enjoys revisiting her studies in the Latin language and chanting in the church when the children allow her to do so.

Starting December 1, 2011 Fr. Anthony will serve as the Proistamenos of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Memphis, TN. He served for more than two years at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Rochester, NY and as the assistant priest to Fr. Michael Varlamos at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores, MI. In all parishes, he has worked to improve the understanding and appreciation of the Church's traditional Byzantine Music, working with any interested to help them serve the Church from the chant stand and choir. His interests include liturgical translation and the history and practical theology of the Church, particularly from the period surrounding the Great Persecution and the conversion of Constantine.

Outside of the life of the Church, Fr. Anthony derives both joy and sorrow from the Arizona Cardinals and despite his incapacity for the game of golf, nonetheless is seldom more at peace than when out on the golf course.