About Saint Elias Melkite Church · Brooklyn, Ohio
Saint Elias Melkite Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic parish of the Byzantine tradition located in Brooklyn, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. As a parish of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton, it belongs to one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome, and its worship and parish life reflect Middle Eastern Christian roots. The community was founded in 1901 by Syrian and Lebanese Christian immigrants and has served Greater Cleveland for more than a century. Today the parish gathers for the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, runs religious education and youth programs (MYO), maintains a Ladies Guild and Knights of Columbus chapter, and is actively involved in local charity such as mobile food pantries and blood drives.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- The Holy Prophet Elias (Elijah) the Tishbite / Mar Elya
- Rector
- Father Georges Haddad
- Diocese
- Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland)
Why belong here
St. Elias offers the rare gift of an Eastern Catholic Byzantine Divine Liturgy in the heart of Greater Cleveland, drawing a faithful community of Middle Eastern heritage that has worshipped together for more than 120 years. The parish combines deep liturgical tradition with an active lay life — a Ladies Guild founded in 1923, a youth organization (MYO) for teens, a Knights of Columbus chapter, religious education, and a Music Ministry (choir) — along with concrete outreach such as mobile food pantries, clothing drives, Red Cross blood drives, and the Sponsor-A-Child program. Anyone interested in the Melkite tradition, Byzantine spirituality, or simply a warm, multi-generational community is warmly welcomed to come celebrate the Divine Life with St. Elias.
Mass times at Saint Elias Melkite Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available by appointment (contact the parish office at 216-661-1155)
Welcome to Saint Elias Melkite Catholic Church
Saint Elias Melkite Catholic Church is an Eastern Christian parish of the Byzantine tradition with Middle Eastern roots, located in Brooklyn, Ohio, just outside Cleveland. The community belongs to the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton and is in full communion with the Holy See in Rome. The parish gathers for the Divine Liturgy on Sundays at 10:30 AM and welcomes anyone — Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or simply curious — to attend, ask questions, and join its Bible study, religious education, and outreach ministries. All are welcome to participate in prayer and fasting, and those baptized and confirmed in a Catholic or Eastern Orthodox church and in good standing may share in the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments).
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:30 AM
- Parish located at 8023 Memphis Avenue, Brooklyn, OH 44144
- Pastored under the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton
History of Our Parish
The parish was founded in 1901 when Middle Eastern Christian immigrants — mostly from Syria and Lebanon — settled in Cleveland and gathered for their first Melkite Byzantine Liturgy on Christmas Day 1901 in the chapel of St. Joseph's Church. Over the next 125 years the community moved four times (East 9th Street, Webster Avenue, Scranton Road, and finally the current Memphis Avenue church opened in 1964) and built the 1979 Cultural Center that still hosts parish events. Key moments include the founding of the Ladies Guild (1923) and Junior Guild (1936), the 1955 pilgrimage of 68 parishioners to the Holy Land, the inaugural Middle East Festival of 1967, and the 35th National Melkite Convention hosted at St. Elias.
- 1901 — First Divine Liturgy celebrated on December 25
- 1906 — East 9th Street chapel formally established
- 1921 — Reverend Malatios Mufleh succeeds Reverend Basil Marsha
- 1923 — Ladies Guild founded
- 1936 — Junior Guild of St. Elias founded
- 1964 — Current Memphis Avenue church opens (November 13)
- 1967 — First Annual Middle East Festival held over Labor Day weekend
- 1979 — Cultural Center built
- 1991 — Reverend Ibrahim Ibrahim becomes pastor; Men's Club founded
- 2020 — Father Georges Haddad ordained
- 2026 — Parish celebrates 125th anniversary
Our Patron: The Holy Prophet Elias
The parish is named for the Holy Prophet Elias the Tishbite (Mar Elya / Prophet Elijah), one of the great Old Testament prophets whose story is told in 1 Kings 17 through 2 Kings 2. He is honored in both the Greek and Latin Catholic traditions on July 20, and his encounter with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel links him with the Carmelite tradition. In Melkite practice, the feast day is celebrated with a procession bearing the icon of Mar Elya and the Blessing of the Means of Transportation — a particularly distinctive tradition, since St. Elias is regarded as the patron saint of transportation because of his ascent to heaven in a chariot of fire.
- Feast day observed July 20
- Patron of transportation; blessing of cars, bicycles, and other vehicles
- Parish Feastday Celebration & Church Picnic is a major annual event
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently administered by Father Georges Haddad, a priest of the Eparchy of Newton who was ordained on September 19, 2020 by Bishop Nicholas Samra. Father Georges was born and raised in Tripoli, Lebanon, emigrated to the United States at 17, and earned graduate degrees in mathematics before pursuing theology at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He is supported by subdeacons, parish trustees Joe Ade and Kaleel Abdalla, and a Music Ministry (choir).
- Father Georges Haddad — Priest / Administrator (ordained 2020)
- Subdeacon (unnamed on site)
- Joe Ade — Parish leadership
- Kaleel Abdalla — Parish leadership
- Khourieh Pamela (Father Georges' wife) and daughters Liana and Helena
Worship and Liturgy
The parish celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, the central liturgical act of the Melkite tradition. Worship is rooted in the Eastern Christian heritage of the parish's founders but is celebrated today in a multilingual setting that includes English, Arabic, and liturgical Greek. The Music Ministry (choir) rehearses regularly (Thursday evenings per the published calendar) and supports the sung liturgy that is a hallmark of Byzantine worship.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM
- Music Ministry / Choir
- Thursday Choir Practices at 6:00 PM
Religious Education and Youth
Faith formation is offered for children through Sunday School, and teens from 8th through 12th grade continue their formation in MYO, the Melkite Youth Organization affiliated with NAMY (National Association of Melkite Youth). MYO encourages its members to take what they learn in class and put it into practice — meeting spiritual leaders, volunteering locally, and forming friendships that strengthen faith.
- Sunday School
- Bible study (adult)
- MYO — Melkite Youth Organization (grades 8–12)
- NAMY-affiliated activities, retreats, and inter-church fellowship
Parish Organizations
St. Elias has a remarkably rich lay culture stretching back a century. The Ladies Guild (1923) and the Junior Guild of St. Elias (1936) are among the oldest parish organizations in the region, and both remain active. The St. Elias Men's Club was founded in 1991 to replace the earlier Holy Name Society and now funds parish scholarships, supports the poor, and sponsors cultural events. The parish also hosts a Knights of Columbus chapter known as 'Chariots of Fire' — a name that nods to the parish's patron, the prophet Elias who ascended in a chariot of fire.
- Ladies Guild (founded 1923) — meets first Sunday at 12:15 PM
- Junior Guild of St. Elias (founded 1936)
- St. Elias Men's Club (founded 1991) — scholarships, charity, cultural events
- Knights of Columbus — Chariots of Fire council (third Sunday at 12:15 PM)
Outreach and Charity
Service to those in need is a central part of parish identity. St. Elias hosts mobile food pantries, organizes clothing collections, and partners with local hospitals and non-profits — both within the Cleveland community and abroad. International outreach includes the Sponsor-A-Child program for the Middle East. The parish also regularly hosts American Red Cross blood drives.
- Mobile Pantry food distributions
- Clothing drives and donation drives
- Sponsor-A-Child program
- American Red Cross Blood Drives
- Support for local hospitals and non-profits
Sacraments and Faith Life
All seven Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Byzantine tradition are celebrated at St. Elias, with those who are baptized and confirmed in a Catholic or Eastern Orthodox church and in good standing welcome to participate. The pastor meets with individuals and groups for catechesis, and Bible study is offered for those exploring the faith. Confession is available by contacting the parish office.
- Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Byzantine tradition
- Bible study
- Religious education
- Pastoral meetings by appointment
- Confession by appointment (216-661-1155)
Visit, Contact, and Connect
Visitors are warmly welcomed at 8023 Memphis Avenue in Brooklyn, Ohio. The parish office can be reached at (216) 661-1155 or by email at [email protected], and updates on services, events, and choir practices are posted on the parish website and Facebook page. The parish encourages anyone interested in the Melkite tradition to 'come celebrate the Divine Life' with them.
- Address: 8023 Memphis Avenue, Brooklyn, OH 44144
- Phone: 216-661-1155
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: steliasmelkitechurch.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/steliasmelkite/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Basil Marsha1901–1921
Celebrated the first Melkite Byzantine Liturgy in Cleveland on Dec. 25, 1901, in the chapel of St. Joseph's Church. Officially named Pastor in 1906 by Bishop Ignatius Horstmann. Resigned 1921.
- Reverend Ibrahim Istephan of Jennin, Syria1904–1905
Cared for the parish while Reverend Marsha was traveling across the U.S. and Canada.
- Reverend Malatios Mufleh1921–1964
Succeeded Marsha. Oversaw moves to Webster Avenue, then Scranton Road, and the purchase of the Memphis Avenue site. Died suddenly in 1964, just before the first Divine Liturgy in the new church.
- Reverend Ignatius Ghattas1952–~1991
Joined as assistant in 1952, became Vicarius Adjutor in 1955. Led the building of the 1964 Memphis Avenue church and the 1979 Cultural Center. Later elevated to Archbishop of the Melkites in the United States.
- Reverend Ibrahim Ibrahim1991–
Founded the St. Elias Men's Club and oversaw the 35th National Melkite Convention, the 'Bells of the East' radio program, and the Jubilee Year 2000 events.
- Father Georges Haddad2020–present
Ordained a priest on September 19, 2020 by Bishop Nicholas Samra. Born in Tripoli, Lebanon; current administrator of St. Elias.