CLERGY & LEADERSHIP

Father Tom Tsagalakis, Priest Emeritus of Holy Apostles, was born in San Jose, California, where he played football and wrestled for the San Jose High Bulldogs. After working at Intel Corporation for three years beginning in 1979, he pursued his education at San Jose State University, earning a B.S. in Business and Psychology in 1983. He then attended Holy Cross School of Theology, where he graduated with his M.Div. and married his beloved wife Presbytera Pat in 1986.

Following his ordination preparation, Father Tom served as pastoral assistant at St. Demetrios for a year before traveling to Greece to study iconography. Upon returning to Seattle, he earned his Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University in 1990, establishing his private practice the same year. He also served as an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University beginning in 1993. Father Tom and Presbytera Pat are blessed with two children, Nicholas and Maria Sophia.

Father Tom was ordained a deacon and began serving Holy Apostles in 1999, followed by his ordination to the priesthood in 2003. He served as Presiding Priest of Holy Apostles until Aug 31, 2026. In his twenty-seven years of service to the parish, he consistently modeled how to grow Christ's Church and nourish a community of love. In retirement, Fr. Tom and Pres. Pat enjoy well-deserved traveling and time with friends and family, while continuing to stay close to the community at Holy Apostles.

Drawing inspiration from St. Isaac the Syrian's words that "God's glory is the human person becoming fully alive," Father Tom believes that God has made everything beautiful in its time and has planted eternity in the human heart. Even in retirement, he continues to encourage the faithful to discover the sacred space of the heart, living out their true nature in Christ as God's living temple, and partaking of God's Divine Energies of peace, love, and grace.