St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 4530 E. Gold Dust Ave., Phoenix, has a domed ceiling with many skylights.  Services, modeled on those of the early Christian church, attract faithful from around the Valley and state.

For love of tradition

Orthodox church draws far-flung audience

By Kelly Ettenborough
The Arizona Republic

Striving to echo the teachings and practices of the first Christian churches, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Phoenix cherishes traditions handed down for centuries.

That appeals to its members, who travel from across the Valley and the state to attend.

St. George is home to immigrants from Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries.  It is home to second, third and fourth generations born in the United States.  And it is home to American converts who didn’t grow up Orthodox Christians but discovered the church as they sought worship similar to the early Christian church.

“It just places you back to the time of Christ, even though they probably wouldn’t sing that way.  The faith is timeless and it will live forever,” said Cate Burns, a convert to the Orthodox church and an Apache Junction resident.

Liturgy used in the service was written in the fourth century.  On Sundays at St. George, parishioners light candles in the narthex, place them in sand and pray briefly.  They greet each other with a “holy kiss,” a tradition started in early New Testament times as a sign they were at peace with God and each other.

At the north Phoenix church, beautiful icons bring to life the saints and scenes from Jesus’ life.  The artwork hangs on the walls, circling the congregation while members worship.

After the service, the parishioners form a long line down the center aisle to kiss the cross and receive a blessing from the priest.

            There are no instruments, only a cappella chanting and singing in English and Arabic.  The gospel preached today is the same gospel preached by Jesus’ disciples, the priest said. 

            “Our church is not founded by a man, a woman or a group of people but is directly connected to and founded by Christ himself via the apostles,” said the Rev. Christopher Salamy, priest at St. George.  “The one thing that is the same, constant in 2000 Phoenix, Arizona, as it is in Jaydyda, Lebanon, is the church.”

            St. George church is as central to life here as it was in Lebanon, said Louis Hasbany, 62.  He’s a retired teacher and Phoenix resident who immigrated to the United States from a small village in Lebanon with his grandmother in 1956.

            “Our church is the center of the community.  They come over here, especially if they are Orthodox.  They feel more comfortable,” he said.

            Marybeth Saliba, a Glendale mother of three, grew up attending a Romanian Orthodox church because it was the only Orthodox church in her town.

The Rev. Christopher Salamy holds up the Bible during services at St. George.  At 27, Salamy is the second-youngest priest in the Antiochian Archdiocese.

           “We didn’t understand any of it, and that makes it more difficult,” said Saliba, who is of Lebanese descent.  After moving to the Valley 20 years ago, she discovered St. George right away.

            “I do like to hear the chanting (in Arabic).  It’s all familiar, home.  I like that it’s in English also,” she said.

            The church, brought to America more than a century ago for Orthodox Christians who spoke Arabic, has undergone some changes as its congregation has evolved.

            Unlike other Orthodox churches in North America, those connected with the growing Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America conduct most services in English.

            Priests and parishioners chant prayers in English and Arabic, but English dominates, because most of the second and third generations of Lebanese families speak English.  The church is also home to English-speaking converts, fulfilling its American leaders’ vision of a church that has grown from an ethnic church to one that embraces all who seek Orthodoxy.

            “Our children don’t speak fluent Arabic anymore, though I still have people in this church who don’t speak English,” Salamy said.  His grandfather emigrated from Lebanon.  At 27, he’s the second-youngest priest in the archdiocese.

            “Our goal is to minister the word of God in the language everybody can understand.  … St. George is just a big family, but it’s made up of many different kinds of children,” he said.

            Today, there are more than 200 Antiochian churches and missions in the Untied States and Canada, with about half a million worshipers.  Only three decades ago, there were 60 Antiochian Orthodox congregations.

            St. George was founded in 1948, and throughout its history as the only Antiochian Orthodox church in the state, parishioners have traveled from all points to attend services. 

Mary Beth Saliba and her 5-year-old daughter Jenna pray during services at St. George.

A few years ago, the congregation started a mission, St. Ignatius of Antioch in Gilbert, where about 80 people worship.  In the future, another mission may be considered for the West Valley, Salamy said.  But St. George’s 250 families come from as far east as Apache Junction and as far west as Goodyear.  Families also come from Prescott and Tucson.

Text and photos were taken from The Arizona Republic.

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