St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

HOLIDAY: Holding onto the Christmas spirit at St. George's

Needed repairs helps St. George parishioners band together for holidays

Looping garlands, twinkling of lights and the soft chords of Christmas carols usually fill St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church this time of year.

But this Christmas, for the first time since 1926, there will be no Christmas services inside St. George Church on Saunders Settlement Road in the Town of Niagara.

Rotting wooden beams that reinforced the sanctuary ceiling, discovered by accident during renovations this fall, left church officials with only one choice: Suspend services in the sanctuary immediately.

Parishioner Judith Mokhiber believes it was divine guidance from God steering parishioners out of harm’s way as the season for heavy snow and ice began.

“Those pillars are the ones that hold up the dome of the church — it’s absolutely amazing that we found out when we did,” she said, her voice shaking with emotion. “I can’t imagine having a tragedy inside of a church.”

But St. George is a tight-knit community of around 150 active families who would not abandon their spiritual home. While construction is under way in the sanctuary of the church, parishioners have found an alternative way to worship.

For the past several weeks, services have been conducted in a hall off the side of the sanctuary. It’s a bit more crowded and less impressive than the altar with its towering, ornate divine symbols, but it’s out of harm’s way.

“We’ve tried to make it as ‘Christmasy’ as we could,” said the Rev. Paul Solberg.

The church was founded in Niagara Falls at 13th Street and South Avenue, but was replaced by a newly built location along Saunders Settlement Road in 1976 to accommodate a growing congregation. Discovering such severe structural problems on a relatively young building blindsided Solberg and parishioners alike.

Solberg estimates it will cost around $140,000 just to immediately fix the seven of eight deteriorating beams. February is the target date to complete renovations and reopen the church.

But the problems don’t end there. Deterioration around the church’s stained-glass windows are estimated to cost as much as $8,000 per window to fix. The church has 19 stained-glass windows.

In all, renovations are estimated to cost as much as $300,000. Right now, the church has around $60,000 in pledged donations, Solberg said.

The church is hoping to raise the rest amid an economic downturn that has made fundraising difficult. But Solberg said he has seen parishioners saving to contribute to the church.

The commitment of St. George’s congregation in many cases stems from a longstanding connection to the church, dating back to when it was founded in the 1920s.

Ken Salhany’s grandfather was a charter member of the church when it began at 13th Street. As a lifelong member, the church has had a special meaning — from baptism to marriage, his life’s milestones have taken place inside the walls of St. George.

Salhany said helping the church make it through the needed repairs has been a bonding experience for its members. Instead of abandoning the church, it seems more people have been attending services.

And this Christmas won’t be any different.

“We’ll be in the hall and we’ll all be together,” he said. “As much as we feel the presence of God in our sanctuary, wherever our church community gathers, we still have that feeling.”

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release December 17, 2008

St. George Orthodox church for the first time since 1924 will not have Christmas service in our church. Like baby Jesus, King of Kings who was born to this world to save all sinners, born in a manger, we too are humbled but full of love and devotion.

Early this fall, we found that the eight pillars holding up the dome of our church were no longer structurally safe. It had become a danger for our parishioners to worship inside the church. Was it by chance or divine guidance that we found the problem before the weight of the snow and ice fell upon it? God is all knowing and this year, God has guided us and protected our parishioners from the hidden structural danger of the pillars. Several of our pillars were found to have major structural problems. We believe several of the pillars were being held up by God because there was nothing else supporting them in place below the flooring.

Traditions that bind us not only in our faith, but, with the community are essential for strong societal pillars to hold up our values for the future of our children. Most of St. George parishioners have lived all their lives in Western New York. Our parishioners are faithful servants to the community through volunteer work for various organizations outside our church as well as within keeping our community strong. Like all Western New Yorkers, we are very familiar with challenging times. Our parishioners, your neighbors, are asking you to help us get through this economic challenge by making a donation to help us strengthen our pillars and bring our Church back structurally. We need our place of worship to be as strong and beautiful as our faith and devotion.

Please contact Fr. Paul Solberg at 716-983-1145 or our Parish Council President, Ricco Slaiman at 716-510-5908. If you would like more information, please go to our website

http://st-george.squarespace.com or our Facebook Group “ Construction Fund for st. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, NF NY” at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=46498837296

Judith Mokhiber

Current News Article from Buffalo News on Mediterranean Festival 2008

Niagara Frontier Publication

National tragedy demonstrates importance of local event

by Jim Burton
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, July 3, 2008
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, July 5, 2008

 

 

http://www.wnypapers.com/news/2008/07/ts3_medfest.htm

 

Photos by Dave Young

 

 

 

LEWISTON

A Mediterranean twist on fair treats

By Nancy A. Fischer - NEWS NIAGARA BUREAU
Updated: 07/11/08 6:42 AM

Angela Shoemaker/Buffalo News

Shelli Fadel arranges baskets to be auctioned off during the Mediterranean Festival at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church that starts today in Lewiston.

LEWISTON — Most don’t expect to munch on heart-healthy food at a summer festival, but that’s not the case at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church’s Mediterranean Festival.

The fourth annual festival runs today through Sunday on the church grounds, 1073 Saunders Settlement Road, near Military Road.

But with Buffalo and Niagara County holding a dubious distinction as a leader in heart disease patients, the festival has also become an important cause for church members.

A portion of festival proceeds will go to the Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital Heart Center and to Mount St. Mary’s Hospital and Health Center.

Church members taking a break from stuffing grape leaves to talk to The Buffalo News said that olive oil, vegetables and whole grains, some meat and lots of fresh foods are a big part of the Mediterranean diet.

Gayle Fadel, the church’s lead baker for the pastry booth, praised the Mediterranean diet, healthy except for the desserts.

“But even desserts are OK when they are eaten in moderation,” said church member Judith Mokhiber.

“One of the healthiest dishes is the tabouleh,” an Arabic salad which consists of bulgar, parsley, mint, scallion and other herbs with lemon juice and olive oil, Fadel said. “Our version is packed with parsley, fresh parsley.”

Other dishes include gyros, homemade pita bread, souvlaki, falafel, hummus, spinach pies and kibbee.

Desserts available will include baklava, ajwee, melomakarona, khourabiethes, koulouraki and macaroons.

“It’s not junk food fare,” said Mokhiber, adding that with ingredients that include nuts and chick peas, these dishes appeal to vegetarians. Meat will be removed from any dish if people ask.

“Get a sample platter and try everything,” suggested the Rev. Paul Solberg, church pastor.

Solberg said the festival began as a way to preserve some of the Lebanese and Greek heritage of the Antiochian church, but also to raise awareness of the Niagara Falls Memorial Heart Center, which was being built when the festival began.

Solberg, who is of Scandanavian background, said members of the church vary in ethnic heritage, especially new members, but that preserving the Mediterranean heritage was very important to them.

“There was a sense [of losing our culture]. We wanted to embrace it and share it with a broader cross section of the community,” he said.

In addition to church tours, the festival will also include raffles, auctions, vendors and a children’s village with rides and activities.

The opening ceremonies of the festival begin at 5 p. m. today and the event runs until 11 p. m.; the fun continues from 11 a. m. to 11 p. m. Saturday and noon to 7 p. m. Sunday.

nfischer@buffnews.com

St. George Orthodox church for the first time since 1924 will not have Christmas service in our church. Like baby Jesus, King of Kings who was born to this world to save all sinners, born in a manger, we too are humbled but full of love and devotion.