Our Parish History
By Jackie Howard Saber, for the 75th Anniversary in 1996.
As we now celebrate our centennial we are adding to the parish history. Check back soon for updates.
The first wave of Orthodox Christians began arriving in Norwood in the early 1890’s and settled in South Norwood. Early in 1918 they felt the need to have a church of their own. They had been traveling to Boston attend services or had been holding them in various homes whenever a visiting Orthodox priest arrived in town.
The Saint George Syrian Greek Catholica Orthodox Church Society was formed and shortly thereafter on 26 May 1918, the Saint George Ladies’ Society was organized.
In 1919, land on Atwood Avenue was purchased and plans for a church were started. Money was scarce and the men of the parish, aided by their teen-age sons, dug the cellar for the foundation of the church which was completed in 1920. On 21 March 1921, the Church was legally incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Saint George wad dedicated by Bishop Aftimos Ofeish who installed the Right Reverend Archmandrite Elia Hamaty as parish priest.
Disaster struck the parish on Good Friday morning in 1933 when the church was burned to the ground. Plans were immediately started for a new building. The new church was dedicated on 25 November 1934 by Metropolitan Antony Bashir who installed Reverend Father Basilious Mahfouz as priest.
The Sunday School which was started in 1931 by the Young Ladies’ Society was reorganized in 1936 and Mrs. Esther Deeb was appointed superintendent by Metropolitan Antony. History was created by the parish on 30 June 1941 when the first Syrian Orthodox Sunday School class in the history of the Archdiocese was graduated.
The Young Ladies’ Society and the Young Men’s Association, organized in the early 1930’s became the Young People’s Fellowship in 1938 yet they retained their individual identity in the church. (These groups were the forerunners of SOYO.) As the Fellowship, they became charter members of the New England Frontier of the Syrian Orthodox Churches. Among the first officers were Miss Effie Mike who was elected vice-resident and Moses Bader who was elected sergeant-at-arms. The second convention of the Frontier was held in Norwood in May 1939.
During World War II, 74 men and two women from the parish saw service in our country’s armed forces. All but five of the men returned home. A Syrian Orthodox Red Cross Surgical Dressing until began in 1941 and thousands of surgical dressings were made for the Red Cross.
Musically, the parish acknowledges a debt of gratitude to Durgam T. Deeb, Isaac Abbott and Slayman Selwyn, Jack Bitar, William Ristom, Fred Maloof, David Franciosi and many other for their service as chanters. With the loss of the Arabic language among the young, a multi-lingual choir was organized in 1948 and today it sings in Arabic, English and Greek. The principle language of the Divine Services is now English.
In keeping with the times, ground was broken for a parish house on Austin Street on 25 June 1951. It was completed and dedicated in 1952. An addition was put on the back of the house in 1975. The home was occupied by Very Reverend Father Nifon Abraham and his family until his retirement in May 1995. He served the parish forty-two years, having arrived in Norwood in 1953.
The Ladies Society celebrated their Diamond Jubilee in 1994 at a celebration attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip. The accomplishments of our Ladies’ are numerous. They have run many functions during the course of the years, each one designed for enjoyment and the raising of funds for the Church. It is their untiring energy and ceaseless efforts that have helped clear the church of its debts through the years. To name the ladies who worked so diligently would mean naming them all.
While the Ladies’ Society raised funds for the church, the Men’s Society ably administered its affairs. Working hand in hand over the years a change came about in 1966 when for the first time women were allowed to serve on the Board of Trustees. Since then, the Board has become a Parish Council. With an eye toward the future, the parish bought property in 1970 retains ownership of land on Nichols Street in Norwood. The arrival of 1996 means the 75th anniversary of incorporation and plans for a celebration.
Since May of 1995, the parish has been pastored by Very Reverend Archpriest Joseph Kimmett, a priest from Colorado and his Khouriyee Erin, from the Cathedral in Wichita, Kansas.
