Who We Are
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide an Orthodox education that nurtures the whole child through academic excellence, spiritual formation, and virtuous living. In partnership with families and the Church, we seek to cultivate students who grow in wisdom, humility, discipline, and love for God and neighbor.
Through a Christ-centered approach to learning, we aim to support the restoration, transformation, and salvation of each child while fostering a lifelong pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness.
Our Vision
Our vision is to cultivate a thriving Orthodox academic community where children are formed in both faith and knowledge, growing into faithful, virtuous, and compassionate human beings who reflect Christ in all areas of life.
We aspire to create an environment where education is deeply connected to the life of the Church, where learning is ordered yet life-giving, and where students encounter both the beauty of God’s creation and the eternal truth of His presence.
Our core values
We believe education begins and finds its fulfillment in the life of the Orthodox Church. Through prayer, worship, and meaningful learning, we seek to nurture both the mind and soul of each child while supporting families in raising children rooted in faith, virtue, and wisdom.
Through thoughtful academics and a Christ-centered community, we encourage students to grow in knowledge, character, and a love for what is true, beautiful, and good.
About Us
St. Nicholas Academic Community exists to partner with Orthodox families and the Church in the spiritual and academic formation of children. We believe true education extends beyond facts and information, seeking instead to shape students into fully human persons created in the image and likeness of God.
Our approach embraces both the knowledge of the created world and the knowledge of the Uncreated God. Through meaningful academics, rich literature, contemplation, prayer, and ordered learning, we strive to create an environment that reflects the beauty, harmony, and truth found in God’s creation.
As a community anchored in the sacramental life of the Orthodox Church, our calendar, rhythms, and daily practices are intentionally centered around prayer, feast days, and the lives of the Saints. We desire for every aspect of our academic life to support the spiritual growth of our students and families.
Teachers
Mr. Bryan Miller
Latin and History
Bryan serves as the Director of the Upper School. He has an MA in History and MS in Strategic Intelligence, a background in teaching history, languages, and liberal arts as well as 12 years of experience in the Department of Defense in senior analytical roles. He and his wife have two children whom they homeschool.
Pani Maria Murray
Bible, Science, and Russian
Maria has an MA in Applied Orthodox Theology and has been homeschooling and teaching for the past ten years. Maria was the founder of SNAC in 2017, has taught Christian Studies, Russian, Latin, and Science at St. Nicholas and now also teaches for St. Athanasius Academy.
Mrs. Nadine Thola
Art, Science
Mrs. Thola returns to SNAC while completing her Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at Liberty University. With over 40 years of teaching experience, she specializes in iconography, painting, calligraphy, jewelry making, and mixed media. She holds degrees from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Virginia Commonwealth University, previously taught art, science, mixed media, and iconography at SNAC, and currently maintains a studio at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA.
Khouria Alexis El Massih
Language Arts, Bible
Alexis earned her BA in Literature and History from Hellenic College in Brookline, MA, where she focused on European intellectual history and classical literature. She also studied oil painting, ancient sculpture in Greece, and completed photography courses and mentorships in digital hand editing.
.avif)
Mr. Sean Cordani
Literature, Guitar
Sean graduated from Liberty University with a bachelor's in strategic Intelligence and later received master's in Law from the University of Washington School of Law. He has managed a team of internet threat analysts and has worked in internet trademark law. Literature and music are his passions, and he has played in multiple bands.
Mrs. Adrienne Meador
Literature, Writing
Adrienne holds a Bachelor of Arts in both Journalism and Political Science and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Secondary English (grades 7-12). She previously taught Honors English in public schools and Literature at SNAC for 3 years.
Presvytera Elizabeth Manuel
Byzantine Chant
Presvytera has earned a B.A. in Psychology from Virginia Tech and has served as a missionary along with her husband, Fr. Thomas, in Guatemala. She has enjoyed teaching beginning elements of Byzantine chant to SNAC students.