Father William J. Bartz was born in Scranton, PA and raised in Akron, OH. He graduated from Hellenic College in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts and from Holy Cross School of Theology in 1978 with a Master of Divinity with Distinction. He was commissioned a United States Navy Chaplain in May 1977 and ordained a Priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in March 1982.
Father Bartz served in the US Navy as a Chaplain for 34 years, of which 27 years were on active duty. His active-duty service began in 1984. He served at three Navy commands: Naval Station Norfolk, USS Biddle CG 34, and USS Carl Vinson CVN 70. His assignments also included eight Marine Corps commands at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Okinawa, Japan; Quantico, Virginia; and Norfolk, Virginia, serving as the Chaplain in a Battalion, Regiment, Group, Base, Division, and Force.
He graduated from the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, receiving a Master of Strategic Studies. During his last five years on active duty, Captain Bartz was the most senior Orthodox Priest in the US military. The Navy Chaplain Corps selected him to be the 2010 recipient of the John H. Craven Award, a peer-nominated and peer-selected Award by Navy Captain Chaplains, recognizing his exemplary servant-leadership among Chaplains.
After retiring from the Navy at the rank of Captain, he served as the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit, beginning August 2011 to August 2013.
Father Bartz was appointed by the Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America to be the Endorsing Agent for Military Chaplains in November 2011 and by the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to be the Endorsing Agent of Institutional Chaplains in March 2012.
On 1 September 2013, Father Bartz became the Presiding Priest of Holy Trinity Church in Carmel, Indiana (Indianapolis area). Under his leadership, the entire interior of the new Church building was completed, including iconography, flooring, pews, lighting, liturgical furniture, and sound system. Holy Trinity Church was elevated to the dignity of a Cathedral in November 2018.
Father Bill retired from the active parish ministry on 1 August 2019 and moved to the Richmond, Virginia area. He currently assists in local area parishes.
On 5 July 2022, he received the ecclesiastical rank of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne of the Patriarch of Constantinople, the highest rank of a married priest in the Greek Orthodox Church.
Father Bill is married to the former Emily V. Mamalis of Mobile, Alabama. They have three children and four grandchildren.
