For over 20 years, Archangel Michael Orthodox Church has participated in the St. Nicholas Seminarian Wish List Program which is sponsored by the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA). This program provides gifts, gift cards, and financial assistance to families heeding the call to serve the Church. Below is a thank you letter shared from the Combs Family who is currently attending St. Tikhon’s Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.
Dear Parishioners of Archangel Michael Orthodox Church –
I am writing on behalf of my family to express our sincere gratitude for the wonderful gifts and the generous, unexpected offering you so lovingly provided. Your kindness, freely giving of your time and resources to bless our family without even knowing us personally, reflects the compassion and love of our Lord. We were truly humbled by your generosity and, honestly, left speechless.
We have always tried to place our trust in the Lord regarding our finances, and never more so than since moving here to St. Tikhon’s. Your gift lifted a real burden for our family, and we cannot thank you enough. You have not only blessed us in a tangible way, but you are also planting seeds in the Church in America by supporting the formation of future clergy who will serve Christ’s people in this land.
Allow me to share a brief introduction. I am a second-year seminarian, and we came to St. Tikhon’s from Holy Theophany Orthodox Church (OCA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We were received into the Orthodox Church on Forgiveness Sunday in March 2013. I entered seminary at the ripe age of 46, and I have been married to my loving and faithful wife, Margaret, for 23 years. We have five children: Selah (Charitina) (18), who graduated in May 2025 and moved to Bozeman, Montana, where she attends St. Anthony’s Orthodox Church; our son, Cole (Nicholas) (16), a high school junior who loves the outdoors and is deeply involved in sports—soccer, wrestling, baseball—as well as hunting and fishing; and our daughters Macrina (11), Cassiana (9), and Vera (6), who are enjoying their time here and taking advantage of the local opportunities for art, P.E., choir, and piano. The children have already put their ice skates to good use on the seminary pond with friends.
Seminary life can be challenging at times, but God has richly blessed our time here. The FOCA gifts, in particular, bring such joy to our children during Nativity and help lighten the load for us as parents. We are deeply thankful for each of you and will continue to remember you in our prayers. May God bless you abundantly in the coming year.
Please forgive the delay in this overdue letter of thanks and appreciation.
With Christ’s love,
The Combs Clan
Herman, Margaret, Charitina, Nicholas, Macrina, Cassiana, Vera and Matis (our pup!)
