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Our Youth Speak Out

Our youth are precious to us and are great assets to our congregation. They are often profound in their insights and are moving in their concern. This section is devoted to articles and poems written by our youth on various topics of concern to them.

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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The Life of St. George

The Life of St George

April 23

This renowned and glorious martyr was born in Cappadocia, the son of rich and God-fearing parents.  His father suffered for Christ, after which his mother moved to Palestine.  When George grew up, he went into the army, in which he rose, by the age of twenty, to the rank of tribune, and as such was in service under the Emperor Diocletian.   

When this Emperor began a terrible persecution of Christians, George came before him and boldly confessed that he was a Christian.  The Emperor threw him into prison, and commanded that his feet be put in the stocks and a heavy weight placed on his chest.  After that, he commanded that he be bound on a wheel, under which was a board with great nails protruding, and thus be turned.  He then had him buried in a pit with only his head above the ground, and left there for three days and nights.  Then he gave him deadly poison, but in the face of all these tortures, George prayed unceasingly to God, and God healed him instantly and saved him from death, to the great amazement of the people.  When he also raised a dead man to life by his prayers, many embraced the Christian faith.   

Among these was the Emperor’s wife, Alexandra, and the chief pagan priest, Athanasius, the governor Glycerius and Valerius, Donatus and Therinus.  Finally, the Emperor commanded that George and the Empress Alexandra be beheaded.  Blessed Alexandra died on the scaffold, and St. George was beheaded.  This happened in the year 303.   

The miracles that have been performed at his grave are without number.  Also are his appearances in dreams to those who, thinking on him, have sought his help, from that time up to the present day.  Consumed by love for Christ, it was not difficult for holy George to leave all for this love – his status, wealth and imperial favor, his friends and the whole world.  For this love, the Lord rewarded him with a wreath of unfading glory in heaven and on earth, and with eternal life in His kingdom.  The Lord further endowed him with the power to help in need and distress all who honor him and call on his name. 

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Directions

320 Palermo Avenue in Coral Gables

From I-95 and Dixie Highway

From I-75 and the West

Church is on the right

2 maps are to be found below.  The second is a closer view. The Church is located at the Red Star.

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contact us

St George Orthodox Cathedral

305-444-6541

You can send Fr Alex a note directly to his personal e-mail.

FatherAlex@comcast.net

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