History
HistoryRoots are not merely important, they are paramount to understanding both the present and future. Christians have always sought a communal place to congregate and worship. For the Metropolitan Chicagoland area in the 1960s, momentum started to build towards the formation of a parish to house a growing Middle Eastern Orthodox Christian community’s need to worship together. The exact origins are inexact or unknown, but what is known is that worship started in many clubs, basements and houses. Finally, in 1960, many families petitioned the late Metropolitan ANTONY (Bashir) for a priest to serve the Divine Liturgy. Services were held at the Syrian-Lebanese Club House on Washington Boulevard and Laramie Avenue on Chicago’s West Side or in rented quarters. Among the first priests to serve on a weekend basis was the Reverend Father Philip Giffin, commuting from Buffalo, New York. Priests from the Greek Diocese of Chicago served periodically at Saint George, as well. The first regular clergy came when the Reverend Father John Newcombe served as the first resident priest for the parish from 1965 to 1966.
In the late fall of 1966, the newly-appointed Metropolitan PHILIP (Saliba) sent the Reverend Father Antony Gabriel to serve as the first full-time Pastor at Saint George Church. Father Antony set out to purchase a Church building from the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, assisted by their bishop, the Right Reverend James Montgomery. Saint George Church purchased the former Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in Oak Park, becoming the first permanent home of the parish.
Father Antony soon initiated many ministries: Teen SOYO (Society of Orthodox Youth Organizations), Antiochian Women (Ladies’ Guild), and the Brotherhood of the Noble Joseph (Altar Servers, Chanters, Choir). Along with original members, many Orthodox Christian ethnicities joined the parish, including Greeks, Serbians, and Russians, and a few American converts. A few short years later, the parish hosted the Biennial Archdiocesan Convention in 1970, and helped develop the present format for subsequent conventions. After serving nearly eight years, Father Antony was transferred to the pastorate of Saint George Church in Washington, D.C., in September 1975. He left behind an irreversible heritage of dedication, energy, and the pursuit of excellence. While waiting for the permanent replacement, the parishioners in Chicago were served for a few months by Father Paul Doyle.
A new pastor arrived with the Right Reverend Father Athanasios Emmert, formerly of Saint Mary’s Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. During his pastorate, in the late 1970s, parish membership changed and grew due to an influx of new immigrants, mainly from Palestine and Jordan. To accommodate the needs of these new parishioners and to involve them fully in the life of the parish, Father Athanasios worked extremely hard to nurture all the parish organizations. Under his leadership the Church won numerous Midwest Diocesan awards, including Best SOYO Chapter and Bible Bowl Championships.
As the parish grew and flourished in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it became apparent that the current Oak Park location could not continue to serve future needs adequately. In 1979, a building committee was formed to seek a larger place for worship. This search concluded in 1983 in nearby Cicero. After years of fundraising, on May 1, 1984, the members of Saint George Church purchased a former Korean Presbyterian Church located at 1220 South 60th Court. This complex included Sunday School classrooms, a parish hall, rectory, and parking lot. The interior of the Church required extensive renovation and modification to adapt it for Orthodox Christian worship. Barely a month later, in June of 1984, the parish hosted the 37th Annual Midwest Region Parish Life Conference (PLC).
In December 1985, Father Emmert requested a leave of absence. While the parish awaited the appointment of a permanent priest, its pastoral needs were met on an interim basis by the Reverend Father Vladimir Christi and Father Michael Tahan.
In June 1986, His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP appointed the Very Reverend Father Nicholas Dahdal to serve and lead the community. Father Nicholas would provide the leadership and vision to guide the parish going forward. In the following years, the parish accomplished several major projects: the renovation of the Fellowship Hall, installation of air conditioning units, and purchase of an adjacent property, increasing the parking area.
The history of Saint George Church has been blessed by the Grace of God on several occasions, from establishing a parish in the early days to recovering from a tragic fire. However, most miraculously on April 22, 1994, the parishioners of Saint George Church witnessed God’s grace as He restored and strengthened our faith. The Icon of the Theotokos on the Church’s Iconostasis began to shed tears during the Friday night service before Lazarus Saturday. His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP of Thrice-Blessed memory formally declared the Weeping Icon a miracle and named it “The Miraculous Weeping Icon of Our Lady of Cicero.” Instantaneously, the Church was swarmed with visitors, initially blocks long, waiting to view this miracle and be anointed by her tears, administered by Father Dahdal and other clergy. Until present-day, numerous miracles and tens of thousands of visitors have been healed or moved by this miracle. A few short months later, Saint George Church also hosted another Midwest Region Parish Life Conference (PLC) over which His Grace Bishop BASIL (Essey) presided.
In December of 1997, tragedy struck when an electrical problem resulted in a fire to much of the interior of the sanctuary, especially surrounding the altar area. For much of the eighteen months, Church services were held at a school gymnasium across the street, and later at a renovated warehouse, purchased by the Parish. Determined to overcome this major obstacle, the parish undertook a major Church renovation and expansion project. The altar was replaced in its entirety, and a new iconostasis obtained from Greece was installed. The entire interior was modified and extended, as the exterior was cleaned and restored. The Fellowship Hall was renovated, later rented out as a banquet hall to the parish and non-members.
Immediately after “The Lady of Cicero” miracle, an elderly monk named Brother Symeon relocated to live and serve at Saint George Church until his passing away roughly four years later, protecting the icon, especially during the fire.
In 1998, an expansion to the Sunday School facility via construction of an adjacent building was completed, increasing the number of classrooms to ten. In 1999, Saint George Church, having just completed the restoration of the Church after the fire, hosted the 44th Antiochian Archdiocesan Convention, where his Beatitude IGNATIUS IV presided over this historic event, dubbed “Convention of the Century,” and was attended by over 3,500 people, including many dignitaries.
Saint George Church in Cicero, Illinois, is a leader among the community, hosting several Pan-Orthodox events, including the Sunday of Orthodox Pan-Orthodox Vespers.
On October 14, 2001, the newly restored and expanded Saint George Church was dedicated, and the altar was consecrated, to the glory of God, by His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP of Thrice-Blessed memory. In 2005, another Midwest Diocese Parish Life Conference (PLC) was hosted by Saint George Church in Cicero.
In July of 2011, Saint George Church in Cicero, Illinois, was honored to host yet another Antiochian Archdiocese Convention. Merely twelve years apart from the last hosted convention, the parish took the responsibility of hosting yet another.
From September 27 to 29, 2013, the Saint George Church Cicero parish joyously celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP of Thrice-Blessed memory. This anniversary began with the official establishment of a parish in the Chicagoland area back in 1963, and does not include years before of congregating together. The entire weekend was a celebration of the incredible levels of commitment, diligence, fellowship, sacrifice, and worship for half a century. Mere months later, Saint George Church and the entire Antiochian Archdiocese was rocked by the news of the falling asleep of its shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP of Thrice-Blessed memory. The impact and importance of all His Eminence possessed and sacrificed for the entire Church in North America and the Middle East cannot be overstated. May his memory be eternal!
In June of 2017, yet another blessing came with hosting the Parish Life Conference (PLC) once again. Over the course of the parish’s history, many clergy served as assistant priests, including Father Bill Caldaroni, Father Mark Haas, Father Dale Autrey, Father Malek Rihani, Father Fouad Saba, Father Joseph Abouid, and Father Mark Sahady. Saint George Church was faithfully served by the late Deacon Bassam Alsweis for 12 years as a Deacon until his passing in 2016. In November of 2018, the pastorate of Father Nicholas Dahdal concluded after over thirty-two years of commitment, hard work, and dedication, helping to grow the parish exponentially.
On February 3, 2019, the Very Reverend Father Fouad Saba was transferred to Saint George Church in Cicero, Illinois. Born in Chicago and serving his entire life within the community, Father Saba was welcomed and hit the ground running. In November of that year, the 25th Anniversary of the Miraculous Weeping Icon (Our Lady of Cicero) shedding tears was celebrated with an extensive weekend set of festivities, including many hierarchs, dignitaries, and the greater community in attendance.
In 2023, the 60th Anniversary of the Parish was celebrated, reflecting on the past and looking into the future. A six-day celebration commenced in October of that year with events for every organization and all ages gathering around His Eminence Metropolitan SABA, who was elected earlier that year. This celebration of the Diamond Jubilee-60th Anniversary, also included sealing a time capsule to be opened 40 years later, on the 100th Anniversary, helping the youth to reflect upon the lifetime commitment a person must have to the church.
In 2025, the Church hosted for the fourth time yet another Biennial Archdiocese Convention, welcoming the entire Archdiocese of North America to Chicago.
Throughout the course of the history of Saint George Church, from its origins in residences and basements to homes in Oak Park and Cicero, much has been dreamt and accomplished. Saint George Church is considered a pillar to many communities, both locally and nationally.
Many organizations were established and grown, ministries have increased and served many, and worship services have united and educated the parish for over sixty years! The community has grown, and many new members continue to join as well as families growing. In order to gather the scattered flock, the parish is committed to establishing missions to serve the greater Chicagoland area. The enriched past assists the parish of today and will into the future for generations to come. God is great!
Through the intercessions of the Holy Theotokos and Saint George the Great Martyr, O Lord, Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. Amen.