About Us
Our History
In 1916, the Syrian community of Allentown consisted of 15 families. At that time, this small colony felt that their number had increased to the size which demanded the facilities of a church building. Early in the spring of that year, ground was broken on a lot in the 1000 block of Catasauqua Avenue. Construction continued throughout the summer and the men of the parish, with the aid of horse drawn buggies, did much of the actual labor such as digging and hauling. The estimated cost of this building was five thousand dollars. By autumn of that year, the completion of the building manifested a dream of a people who were small in number but whose heritage had made them great in faith.
The building served the people sufficiently until the 1950′s. In 1956, Father John Chromiak and the Board of Trustees foresaw that the size of the church was inadequate to sufficiently serve the growing parish. At the St. George Banquet of the same year, His Eminence Metropolitan ANTONY Bashir began to call for pledges. The people responded. This wonderful response marked the beginning of the new church building fund. During the next six years, sacrifice, hard work and unwaning faith brought a new dream closer to reality.
By autumn of 1961, the building fund had grown to sufficient size and the community began to consider the possibility for breaking ground in the spring of 1962. And so it was decided that the church was to be built in the Byzantine style, as were the churches of old, exhibiting one large circular ribbed dome. The blue roof capped by a huge gold cross has become a landmark of interest in the Allentown area. The church proper reaches a peak of 50 feet and conveys the feeling of soaring into space. Its circular shape symbolizes a continuation of faith having no beginning and no end. Beneath the church is an auditorium capable of seating over 500 people with complete kitchen facilities and Sunday school classrooms.
In September of 1963, Sayidna ANTONY presided over the first liturgy held in the new church facility. On September 29, 1973, His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP presided over the festivities celebrating the burning of the mortgage for the new church facility.
From 1963 through 1970, the parish of St. George was served by the Very Reverend Father Nicholas Habib. From 1970 through 1977, the Reverend Basil Sadaka served as Pastor. From October of 1977 through August 1978, the then Very Reverend Father Antoun Khouri was appointed as Pastor of St. George. He was eventually succeeded by the then Very Reverend Father Demetri Khoury. Both Father Antoun and Father Demetri were elevated to the positions of Auxiliary Bishops within the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. In July 1983, the Very Reverend Father Anthony Sabbagh was assigned the Pastorship of St. George in Allentown and he remains as its spiritual leader until the present time.
The parish of St. George in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is also responsible for producing three current members of the clergy within the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. The Very Reverend Father Joseph Allen (St. Anthony’s-Bergenfield), the Very Reverend Father Joseph Shahda (St. George- Houston) and the Very reverend Father Alexander Atty (St. Michael’s-Louisville) were parishioners of St. George-Allentown prior to entering the clergy.
In April 1990, during a weekend visit by His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP, plans for a new church, Sunday school and social hall were unveiled and Sayidna PHILIP officially broke ground by personally blessing and placing a gold-plated shovel into the hallowed ground where the first church was built in 1916. These plans were further evaluated and formalized during Sayidna PHILIP's visit to our parish in June 1994, at which time he celebrated the 25th anniversary of Father Anthony’s entering the priesthood.
Our beloved Former clergy
Pastor Emeritus, The Very Reverend Father Anthony Sabbagh
Ghassan Sabbagh was born in Damascus, Syria on May 15, 1947 to Issa and Jamilie Sabbagh. Later, he was taken to his father’s hometown, Marmarita, about one hundred and sixy miles from Damascus. In Marmarita, he gained his academic education. Later, he was called to the ministry and assigned to the Balamand Seminary in The Koura, Lebanon. He was ordained to the deaconate by Metropolitan Abiphanious Zaid of Akkar and Metropolitan Basilious Samaha of Houran. His ordination to the deaconate took place in Marmarita, Syria on May 21, 1966. Upon the completion of his seminarial course, he was assigned to the University of Damascus to study law. While studying law, Father was the Archdeacon to Theodosius Abourjailee of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Father Sabbagh was chosen among a qualified group of seminarians by His Eminence Metropolitan Michael Shaheen, Archbishop of Toledo, Ohio to serve the parish of St. George Orthodox Church of El Paso, Texas. He was elevated to the dignity of the priesthood and ordained June 8, 1969 at St. George Orthodox Church in El Paso, Texas.
While in El Paso, Father Anthony Sabbagh met his wife, Minerva Haddad. On August 16, 1970, Father Anthony and Khouria Minerva were married at St. George in El Paso. They lived in El Paso for two years and then were moved to Wichita, Kansas in 1971 to serve St. Mary’s Orthodox Church. At St. Mary’s, Father Anthony started a newsletter called The Scroll and a softball and volleyball team, all three are still in existence until today. While living in Wichita, Father Anthony and Khouria Minerva had three children; Tammy, Mary, and Christina.
In July of 1979, by the order of Metropolitan Philip, Father Anthony and his family was moved to Houston, Texas to serve at St. George Orthodox Church. There in Houston, Father Anthony initiated a Mediterranean Festival in 1980 and a Community Center. He also started a mission church named St. Anthony in Spring, Texas that started from a humble bible study that met each week. St. Anthony’s is now a thriving and prosperous church due to the faithful servant Anthony and his dedicated flock.
In July of 1983, by the order of Metropolitan Philip, Father Anthony and his family was moved to Allentown, PA. At that time, St. George Allentown needed an Arab-American speaking priest that could bring stability and peace to the community. The congregation of St. George also shares the native region of Father’s homeland, and Father Anthony is able to share his culture and national background with his newly found flock. Father Anthony was appointed Dean of Eastern Pennsylvania in 1983. He inspires and assists priests in the local area with needs and support, and is a liaison between the archdiocese and the region. He also works very closely with the Brotherhood of the Lehigh Valley Orthodox Clergy. Father Anthony initiated a successful annual Heritage Festival in 1985 and also initiated a building project. Father Anthony is a spiritual advisor for all St. George organizations. Under the direction of Father Anthony, homeless dinners were instituted and numerous humanitarian deeds for needy families occurred. St. George Teen Soyo has lovingly taken on many of these projects and have won numerous Most Active and Humanitarian Awards under Father’s leadership.
On July 12, 1993, Father Anthony and Khouria’s daughter, Hope, was born. Father Anthony and Khouria Minerva married their other three daughters, Tammy, Mary, and Christina in Allentown, and now are proud grandparents of eight beautiful grandchildren.
