Michael Ziegler

Deacon Michael is a native of Cape Girardeau and a former Roman Catholic, who grew up in Memphis, TN. He earned a BA in Classics (1994), a MA in Catholic Life and Thought (1997) from Saint Meinrad Seminary College and School of Theology, and a MS in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Neumann University (2014). Deacon Michael and his wife, Shammasy Stella, were received into the Orthodox Church on Pentecost 2013.

Dn. Michael and Sh. Stella moved back to Cape Girardeau with their son, Reuben, in April 2016, and joined St. John mission. Dn. Michael completed the St. Stephen’s Certificate program through the Antiochian House of Studies in 2024, and was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on August 22, 2026. Dn. Michael serves St. John Parish as the Catechism Coordinator and Music Director. Sh. Stella serves as the Leader of the Myrrhbearing Women, the parish’s Antiochian Women’s group.