Our Clergy & Staff
Rev. Fr. Nick Mueller
Fr. Nicholas Mueller grew up in Roseville, CA attending St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church. At St. Anna, Fr. Nick received wonderful formation from the life of the parish, enjoying serving in the altar, singing the services with the congregation, GOYA, attending Sunday School and annual youth retreats. This experience imparted to Fr. Nick the firm conviction that the Faith imbues our life with meaning and that the Church is at its most vibrant when the experience is participatory and the Faith made applicable to one’s life.
Presb. Dena and Fr. Nick met in elementary school, later becoming friends and beginning their relationship in high school. Presb. Dena and Fr. Nick completed their undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, before progressing onto their respective graduate studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (MDIV, 2015) and Harvard University (PhD, English Literature, 2019). They were married in 2015. Fr. Nick was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco on the Feast of St. Anna, July 25, 2017. Fr. Nick previously served the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Religious Education and Taxiarchae/Archangels Greek Orthodox Church in Watertown, MA (2016-2019).
On October 1st, 2019 Fr. Nick was assigned as the assistant priest at Ascension Cathedral. He assumed the responsibility of presiding priest on September 17, 2023. Presb. Dena is the Executive Director of the Berkeley Institute, a non-profit in Berkeley. They have three sons–Symeon, Elias and Isaiah. Together they enjoy camping and hiking. Fr. Nick has been skateboarding for over 20 years and continues to skate whenever he has an opportunity.
Fr. Alexander Karcher
Fr. Alexander was born in 1990 and raised in a deeply rooted Orthodox Christian family as the second oldest of seven children. Although he and his siblings are cradle Orthodox, both of his parents embraced the faith as converts. With a father, grandfather, and two uncles serving in the priesthood, the Church has always been at the center of his family life.
A formative part of his childhood was spent living in Thessaloniki, Greece, an experience that profoundly shaped his faith, identity, and connection to the Orthodox tradition. He later returned to the United States, living throughout the West Coast before pursuing studies in Orthodox Theology at Hellenic College, graduating in 2015.
After several years working in Reno, Nevada, Fr. Alexander discerned a call to the priesthood and returned to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 2018 with the blessing of Metropolitan Gerasimos. There he earned his Master of Divinity degree in 2022 and later completed a Master of Theology degree. During this time, he met his wife, Faeli Kathryn Heise, whom he married in January 2024. Their daughter, Odelia Joy Evangeline, was born in the spring of 2025.
Fr. Alexander was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in August 2025 in Reno and to the Holy Priesthood later that month at Ascension Cathedral in Oakland, where he now serves as Associate Priest. He remains committed to serving God, His Church, and the faithful entrusted to his care.
Katerina Lembesis
Katerina Polyzos Lembesis was born and raised in Oakland and grew up immersed in the Greek Orthodox community. She attended Greek school and Sunday school and participated in traditional Greek dance — experiences that nurtured her deep appreciation for her faith, heritage, and the importance of community.
Katerina spent 20 years with the Castro Valley Unified School District, including three years serving as a school secretary. Throughout her career, she became known for her organization, reliability, and strong attention to detail. She takes pride in creating structure, maintaining efficient systems, and ensuring daily operations run smoothly. Supporting others and fostering a well-organized environment have always been central to her professional approach.
Event planning is another passion of Katerina’s. She enjoys bringing people together and thoughtfully coordinating gatherings that feel seamless and meaningful. Whether organizing school functions, church events, or family celebrations, she values careful planning and attention to detail to create positive and memorable experiences.
Outside of work, Katerina enjoys spending time with her children and their beloved pets. She also treasures traveling to Greece to reconnect with her roots and traditions. Family, culture, and community remain at the heart of everything she does.