The Very Rev. Fr. Thomas Zain was born on May 12, 1967 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to George and Lorraine Zain. He is the youngest of four children. After high school, he attended Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI where he received two B.A. degrees in June of 1989, one in Marketing and the other for Russian Language. In the fall of 1990 he enrolled in St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary where he studied for two years. His final year was spent at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. It was there that he received his Master of Divinity Degree in May 1993. After completing his M.Div. degree Fr. Thomas studied Arabic language and Byzantine Music at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand in North Lebanon from 1993-1994.

Fr. Thomas married Claudia Yacoub of Brooklyn, NY on May 28, 1994. He was ordained a deacon on July 3, 1994 by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP and a priest on July 17, 1994 by His Grace, Bishop BASIL. He was assigned to St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA in August 1994, and to St Nicholas Cathedral in August 1997. Fr Thomas and Claudia welcomed their first child, Simone Marie on October 1, 1997, their second child George Thomas on September 11, 2002 and their third child, James Elias on August 10, 2010. Father Thomas was elevated to the dignity of Archpriest by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP on June 5, 2005. He was appointed the Vicar-General of the archdioese on December 25, 2011.

In addition to his duties at the Cathedral,  Father Thomas helps in the Archdiocese Headquarters as the personal assistant to His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS (he also served as the personal assistant to His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN for 14 years) and works on special projects for His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP. His duties often include representing the Metropolitan at various inter-Orthodox functions and other events in the Greater New York City area. He serves on several committees and departments of the archdiocese including the Ordination Review Board and the Department of Clergy Insurance and Retirement. He is also a lecturer in pastoral theology, teaching Antiochian Liturgics at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY.  Father Thomas also serves as the spiritual advisor for the North American Council (NAC) Fellowship of St. John the Divine.