About the Cathedral

A HISTORY OF ST. GEORGE CATHEDRAL

The Cathedral of Saint George of Coral Gables, Florida is a religious body under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

 Our Archdiocese is one of the 16 Archdioceses that form the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. The Patriarchate of Antioch is one of the four Apostolic Patriarchates: (by order of primacy) Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. Four Patriarchates have been established at later dates as well as four autocephalous (independent) Churches, (by order of primacy) These Patriarchates are: Russia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria; the independent Churches are Cyprus, Georgia, Poland and Greece. The spiritual leader of our Patriarchate resides in Damascus, Syria.

 Fifty-four years ago, on December 20, 1949, eleven devout Orthodox Christians met to share a dream with each other. These eleven were: Mike Ajhar, Naheem Barjod, Naseem Bitar, Abraham Deratany, Reverend Spyridon Dora, Sam Kerge, Edward Neimy, David Orfaly, Mike Saikaly, Ed Saliba, and Frank Shaker. That dream was to see a church come into existence for themselves and their children. At the time of its inception, Metropolitan Anthony Bashir, of Blessed Memory, sent a missionary priest to help the local community by quickly identifying and organizing them, helping them to launch an official drive for establishment of an Orthodox church.

 Initially, they held organizational meetings at the Syrian Lebanese American club. Shortly thereafter, they drew up a Charter and, soon enough, the Saint Anthony Society came into being. Its Spiritual Advisors were Fr. Secabe and Archimandrite Basilious Sedaoui. As an infant Mission, the Society first held all it's religious services, meetings, and socials in clubhouse. As the society grew and expanded, it later held these same activities in various and sundry locations.  By the end of 1957, the appointed Building Committee found a church for sale. The church was the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church located in 200 SW 8th Avenue. Its sale price? $35,000.

Undaunted by the apparent lack of funds locally, the Committee solicited the faithful as far north as West Palm Beach. The final benefactor, George Sydah, donated $15,000, stipulating only that the name "Saint Anthony" be changed to the name "Saint George", not after himself, but rather, for a dear friend, a Reverend Father George Kattouf. True to Mr. Sydah's wishes, the nearly decade old community, now relocated, was officially consecrated and dedicated on February 2, 1958 by Metropolitans Anthony Bashir and Samuel David.

 Now that Miami's Orthodox faithful had their house of worship, they needed to seek their shepherd. On September 20, 1958, a young vigorous, dynamic priest, Reverend Father Michael Andrew Husson, arrived in Miami from Wichita, Kansas to tend to the needy, and soon to quickly grow, flock.  When Fr. Michael was assigned by Metropolitan Anthony to serve the then new community of Saint George in Miami, he was also directed to serve the Antiochian faithful throughout the state of Florida. With the Saint George parish being the only Antiochian parish in the State, he was primed to effect greatly both religious and social patterns of the faithful. Through his exacting, dedicated guidance, much was initiated, launched, and established: Sunday school classes, a choir, a Ladies Auxiliary, and a Men's society. As Fr. Michael's ministry continued to help the parish grow and expand, so, too, did his ministry grow and expand: He was involved in the creation of many new missions, two which are Saint Philip Orthodox Church in Davie and Saint Mary Orthodox Church in West Palm Beach. For these reasons and upon Metropolitan Philip Saliba’s proclaiming in 1966 that the parish would serve as the Southern Cathedral of the Archdiocese, Fr. Michael became not only the Dean of the Cathedral but also the Dean of the State of Florida.

 In 1965, Fr. Michael sighted what three years later would become Saint George's new home. Immediately recognizing that the then "Temple Judea" would meet the Parish's long term needs, he began the tireless drive for funds to acquire that potential-laden piece of real estate. Negotiations were completed on August 31, 1968, with a down payment, a mortgage, and the old church building offered as security. After three months of holding services in the auditorium, for lack of funds to convert the once Temple to Orthodox standards of worship, a second name joined that of George Sydah, as the parish's first great Benefactress: Rose Perez Merhige.  Thus, the Cathedral of Saint George began as a dream and came true because of dedication, sincerity, and faithfulness of such people. Under the leadership of Fr. Michael, by the grace of God, an Orthodox House of God would grow into a full, well-nourished vineyard from a small-planted seed.

 Upon Fr. Michael's retirement, Reverend Father George S. Corey was appointed to continue the pioneering work of Fr. Michael. Father George served God at the Cathedral for eleven months during which the senior SOYO was formed.  When Father George and his family needed to leave Miami, His Eminence Metropolitan Philip, in prayerful sincerity to find the best shepherded for Saint George's flock, was guided by the Holy Spirit to choose Archimandrite Dimitri (Khoury) to serve the cathedral faithfully for eight years until his consecration to the Holy Episcopacy.

 Members, young and old alike, sought to expand the church and, moreover, declared it was time to build a new Cathedral. No one desired more to see the Cathedral of Saint George grow to the glory of God than Father Elia Shalhoub, the newly appointed Dean.  Father Elia's steadfastness of faith will, by the grace of God, led the Cathedral's faithful in further developing the work begun by Father Michael and continued by Father George and His Grace Bishop Dimitri.

 In July of 2004, Fr Alexis Kouri was appointed the new Dean of the cathedral.  Through his love of worship and teaching as well as his encouragement of the faithful, both young and old alike, St. George Cathedral is growing into a truly dynamic community for those who desire to worship God through the practices of the ancient and undivided Christian Church.  Come and pray with us… and see what God has done and is doing among his people.

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