Fr. Joseph was born in Brooklyn, NY on June 24, 1983 to Elias and Jeanet Hazar, from Marja’youn Lebanon and Damascus, Syria, respectively. From the very young age of 3 years old, he felt a calling to serve the Lord as a priest. He was baptized at St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the first parish founded by St Raphael of Brooklyn. He was raised in the town of Vestal in upstate New York.
On Palm Sunday in 2004, Joseph was ordained a Subdeacon by Metropolitan PHILIP of blessed memory. In 2006, he received his undergraduate degree in Human Development from Hellenic College (Brookline, MA) and his Master of Divinity in 2011 from St Tikhon Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan, PA. After seminary, he spent a year furthering his studies at the Patriarchal seminary of the Balamand in north Lebanon.
Fr. Joseph served as youth director, intern, and pastoral assistant at the Basilica of St Mary (Livonia, MI), St Elijah Church (Oklahoma City), St George Church (Cicero, IL), and St George Church (Fishers, IN). He has also given numerous retreats and lectures throughout the country. He also served in various capacities at a number of Orthodox camps throughout the country, beginning with 3 summers at the Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA.
In 2014, Joseph married his wife, Jennifer, and they have three daughters. On June 28, 2015, Joseph was ordained to the diaconate, and on June 9, 2016, he was ordained to the holy priesthood, both ordinations by the laying on of hands by His Grace, Bishop ANTHONY of Toledo and the Midwest.
In 2016, Fr. Joseph was assigned to be the pastor of St John Orthodox Church of Levittown, NY, where he served for two years as the pastor. In 2018, Fr. Joseph was assigned to St George Cathedral in Charleston, WV, where he held the title “Dean of the Cathedral.” In five years, Fr. Joseph began evangelizing and led dozens of people to the Orthodox faith. During his tenure, many new and spiritually rich programs were added to the life of the Cathedral.
In 2024, Fr. Joseph received the exciting news that he would be assigned to St Thekla Mission in Fort Bend. Fr. Joseph had in his heart to work in a mission parish and this was realized when His Eminence Metropolitan SABA sent him to do this important work.
Fr. Joseph’s mission has always been very straight forward: “The salvation of souls.” He hopes to work with the community to grow and bring glory to God throughout the region.
