About Saint George the Great Martyr · Birmingham, Alabama
St. George the Great Martyr Church is a Melkite Greek-Catholic parish in Birmingham, Alabama — the only Melkite Catholic church in the state and one of roughly 45 across the United States. Founded in 1921 by immigrants from Syria and Palestine, it belongs to the Melkite Eparchy of Newton (Massachusetts) and serves a multi-generational, Eastern-rite Catholic community whose members include those from various Eastern churches as well as newcomers drawn to Byzantine worship. The parish is known for its warm hospitality, its Byzantine-style Divine Liturgy celebrated in English alongside Arabic prayers, its annual Middle Eastern Food Festival, and the remarkable legacy of its mid-20th-century pastor Father Joseph Raya, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Birmingham's civil rights movement before becoming Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth, and All Galilee.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- Saint George the Great Martyr
- Rector
- Rev. Father Justin Rose (pastor since September 1, 2017)
- Diocese
- Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (Newton, Massachusetts) — a nationwide eparchy of around 50 parishes, missions and outreaches; one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome, headed globally by the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch.
Why belong here
People come to St. George for a faith that is both ancient and warmly inclusive: the full Byzantine liturgical tradition celebrated in living English (with Arabic prayers sung weekly) in an unrushied, family-friendly sanctuary where children stay in the nave and the antidoron is offered to every visitor afterward. Members are drawn by strong formation opportunities — the parish-run 'The Way' religious-education program, the King's Men men's fellowship, the JAM middle-school and high-school youth groups, and the St. Anne's women's group — together with a rich sacramental life, Mid-Century Eastern-rite architecture, an active food-festival and fellowship culture, and a parish whose own pastor once marched for civil rights in the same city.
Mass times at Saint George the Great Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (no appointment needed)
- Wednesdays 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (no appointment needed; per the Melkite parish locator listed as 4:30–5:30 PM)
- By appointment through the parish office (205-252-5788) for longer sessions
Parish Identity & Welcome
St. George the Great Martyr is a Byzantine-rite (Greek-Catholic) parish of the Melkite Eparchy of Newton, Massachusetts, and is the only Melkite Greek-Catholic church in Alabama. The community describes itself as having 'Middle Eastern roots … Southern heritage … welcoming everyone,' drawing members from a wide range of Eastern Christian backgrounds as well as inquirers drawn to the Byzantine liturgical tradition celebrated in English.
- Patron: Saint George the Great Martyr
- Eparchy: Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (Newton, MA)
- Unique in Alabama — one of ~45 Melkite parishes in the United States
- Welcomes visitors from every background; offers antidoron to all after Liturgy
History of St. George the Great Martyr
Founded in 1921 by immigrants from Syria and Palestine who became merchants and shopkeepers in Birmingham, St. George has anchored the local Arab-Christian community for over a century. The current church was designed by the Birmingham firm of Van Keuren & Davis and built in 1957 during the pastorate of Father Joseph M. Raya, who made the parish nationally known for its stand on civil rights and its pioneering use of English in the Byzantine Divine Liturgy. A major $4.1 million renovation of the parish hall was begun with CTSM Architects and Johnson Kreis Construction Co. in 2025.
- 1921 — Parish established by Syrian and Palestinian immigrants
- 1957 — Current church built during Father Raya's pastorate; designed by Van Keuren & Davis
- 1960s — Father Raya marches for civil rights with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; founds St. Moses the Abyssinian Byzantine mission for African-Americans
- 1968 — Father Raya named Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee
- 1988–2017 — Archimandrite Frank J. Milienewicz serves as pastor
- 2017 — Rev. Father Justin Rose installed as the current pastor
- 2025 — $4.1 million parish-hall renovation and expansion begins
Pastor & Clergy
St. George is led by Father Justin Rose, a New England–born priest with a PhD from the University of California and a D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary, who was ordained in 1995 and transferred to Birmingham in 2017. He is assisted by two deacons, a subdeacon, and a long-serving tonsured Reader, with a total of 14 pastors spanning the parish's 1921 founding to the present.
- Rev. Father Justin Rose — Pastor (since September 1, 2017)
- Fr. Deacon Andrew Baroody (since 2015)
- Fr. Deacon Robert Klesko (since 2023; Director of God With Us Online, EWTN Theology Advisor)
- Subdeacon Riley Winstead, M.Div. (since 2021; UAB Hospital Chaplain)
- Reader Joseph (tonsured Reader since 1988; longest serving in the Eparchy of Newton)
- See 'Pastor history' above for the full succession of pastors
Worship & Service Schedule
The parish follows the Byzantine liturgical calendar, with weekly services throughout the year. Wednesday evening Vespers and the Sunday morning Divine Liturgy are livestreamed so that members who are traveling or housebound can worship in real time. Confession and Anointing are offered without appointment on Wednesday mornings and evenings, and longer sessions are available by calling the rectory.
- Wednesday — 6:00 PM Vespers (Live Streamed)
- Saturday — 5:00 PM Divine Liturgy
- Sunday — 9:00 AM Orthros / Morning Prayer (Live Streamed)
- Sunday — 10:30 AM Divine Liturgy (Live Streamed)
- Wednesday Confession — 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:30–5:30/5:00–6:00 PM
- Live-streamed services accessible through saintgeorgeonline.org
Faith Formation — 'The Way'
'The Way' is the parish's whole-family religious-education program, built around eight 'Pillars' of faith (scripture, worship, the way of Christ, family, witness, sacrament, stewardship, and the Eastern Christian tradition). Classes meet on Sunday mornings, with parallel youth and adult tracks, and feed directly into sacramental preparation.
- Father Justin Rose — Pastor
- Alex Kubik — The Way Director
- Sharon Baroody — Curriculum Team Chair
- Rosalie Ritchey — Educator / Content Specialist
- Contact: [email protected]
Youth & Family Ministry
St. George invests heavily in its young people, with age-specific groups for middle-schoolers, teens, and high-schoolers, plus parish-wide youth-and-parent meetings. Children's needs are taken seriously in the sanctuary itself: families are welcome to remain in the nave during services and may use the crying room, narthex, or side hallways as needed.
- Middle School JAM — led by Eisa Shunnarah
- High School Youth — led by Anthony Baroody
- Youth Group Survey for teens and parents
- Family-friendly nave; crying room at the front right; narthex and two side hallways available
- The Way curriculum supports parents as 'first and forever teachers'
Men's, Women's, and Service Fellowship
Three active fellowship organizations serve the adult parish: The King's Men (men's fellowship and servant-leadership), St. Anne's Group (women's fellowship), and the parish Food Festival Committee (the community's largest outreach). The King's Men also plan social events (TopGolf, bowling, Baron's baseball outings) and service projects (homeless meal service, children's hospital visits).
- The King's Men — meets every Sunday during The Way, before Divine Liturgy
- St. Anne's Group — listed in parish calendar
- Food Festival Committee — host of the annual Middle Eastern Food Festival
- Safe Environment — training program originally co-authored by Father Rose for the Eparchy of Newton
Middle Eastern Food Festival
Since 1981 St. George has hosted an annual Middle Eastern Food Festival each fall — one of the parish's most visible events in Birmingham's civic life. The festival includes baked kibbee, spinach pies, baklawa, traditional dancing, and tours of the Byzantine interior, and is open to the wider community as both a fundraiser and an outreach to those curious about the Melkite tradition.
- Held annually each fall since 1981
- Featured foods: baked kibbee, spinach pies, baklawa, and other Middle Eastern specialties
- Includes traditional dancing and church tours of the iconography
- Open to the wider Birmingham community as evangelization and fellowship
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
All seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are celebrated in their Byzantine form at St. George. Orthodox Christians in good standing are welcomed to receive Holy Communion; other Catholic visitors are respectfully asked to refrain, and inquirers are invited to speak with the priest or deacon about the catechumenate process. Anointing of the Sick is offered without appointment during Wednesday confession hours.
- Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Eucharist (Divine Liturgy), Confession, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders
- Confession: Wednesdays 11:00 AM–12:00 PM and 5:00 PM–6:00 PM (no appointment)
- Anointing available during Wednesday hours and by appointment
- Holy Communion: Orthodox Christians in good standing welcomed; catechumenate inquiries welcomed after Liturgy
Building & Facilities
The church building and attached parish hall anchor the parish's ministry on 16th Avenue South in Five Points South / Highland. In 2025 the parish launched a major expansion project that adds classrooms, restrooms, and a connecting foyer to the parish hall — a $4.1 million investment that the parish describes as part of its centennial vision.
- Current church — built 1957; designed by Van Keuren & Davis (Mid-Century / Byzantine interior)
- Two unisex restrooms (one on each side of the short hallway)
- Crying room at front right; narthex and two side hallways
- 2025 Parish-hall renovation — CTSM Architects and Johnson Kreis Construction Co. — $4.1 million
- Exonarthex (porch) used for fellowship after Liturgy with coffee and sweets
Visiting St. George — Practical Info
Visitors are warmly welcomed and need not feel rushed or out of place. At the end of every Divine Liturgy, everyone is invited to approach the Cross or icon, take a piece of antidoron (blessed bread), and join the parishioners out on the porch for coffee, sweets, and conversation. Live-streaming makes participation possible from anywhere.
- Address: 425 16th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205
- Rectory phone: (205) 252-5788; Church Hall: (205) 252-1085; Fax: (205) 252-0063
- Email: [email protected]
- Live-streamed services via the parish website
- Antidoron offered to every attendee after Liturgy
- Visitors may stay in the nave with children; movement during services is comfortable
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rt. Rev. Economos Nicholas Medawar, B.C.1921–1925
Founding pastor when the parish was established by immigrants from Syria and Palestine.
- Priest-Monk Joseph Kandalaft, B.S.1925–1927
- Priest-Monk Lavrentios Sawaya, B.C.1927–1932
- Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Andrew Hallack, B.C.1932–1945
- Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Michel Bardaouil1946–1952
- His Grace, Archbishop Joseph Raya1952–1968
Designed and built the present 1957 church with Van Keuren & Davis; championed English-language Divine Liturgy; marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Birmingham civil rights movement; founded St. Moses the Abyssinian Byzantine Catholic mission; later Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee; Nobel Peace Prize nominee (2005).
- Rev. Father Allen Maloof1968–1969
- Rev. Father Badie Essa1969–1971
- Priest-Monk John J. K. Nassar, B.S.1971–1973
- Rev. Father Salim Faddoul1973–1976
- Rev. Father August Deasio1976–1981
- Rev. Father Mark Melone1981–1985
Served as pastor 1981–1985; had earlier served as Associate Pastor 1979–1981.
- Rev. Father Lawrence G. Gosselin1985–1988
- Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Frank J. Milienewicz1988–2017
Pastor emeritus; previously served parishes in Wooster MA, Milwaukee WI, and Lansing MI; Proto-Presbyter of the Southern Region; Spiritual Advisor of NAMY; fell asleep in the Lord December 11, 2019.
- Rev. Father Justin Rose2017–Present
Transferred from St. Philip the Apostle Mission in San Bernardino, CA by Bishop Nicholas Samra.