[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 9, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO ST. ELIAS ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 2004

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to St. Elias 
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of Syracuse which celebrates its 
75th anniversary this year.
  The Church's history begins a hundred years ago when St. Raphael, who 
is considered the father of the Archdiocese St. Elias belongs to, was 
the first Orthodox bishop consecrated in the New World. At this time, 
immigrants from Middle Eastern countries such as Syria, Lebanon and 
Palestine settled in Syracuse and formed the nucleus of the Antiochian 
Orthodox community there. Until the formal formation of St. Elias, 
visiting clergymen came to the community to administer the various 
sacraments to the faithful settlers.
  St. Elias Syrian Orthodox Church of Syracuse, the forerunner of St. 
Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, was born November 10, 1929. 
First incorrectly incorporated as an Episcopal Church in 1930, this was 
corrected and reincorporated in 1960 and again reincorporated in 1988 
when the Archdiocese changed its official name. The first home of the 
church was at 241 West Lafayette Street and the first permanently 
assigned Pastor was the Reverend John Khoury.
  In 1939, a gathering which would become the social event of the year 
for the Arabic speaking community of Central New York and a tremendous 
fund-raiser was instituted. This event has turned into a successful 
Middle Eastern Festival bringing hundreds of people of Arabic and other 
backgrounds together to enjoy each other's company while becoming a 
large part of the St. Elias Parish Annual Budget when combined with the 
souvenir journal of the festival.
  Over time the Church has evolved to include a Church School Program 
(1945), an English Liturgical Choir (1945), a Youth organization 
(1953), and the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women group 
(1966). In 1963, land was purchased on Onondaga Hill and the new St. 
Elias Church was consecrated on August 17, 1969 by Metropolitan Philip 
Saliba.
  The founders of this parish established an ethnic church in the 
inception, in that most of the parishioners were of Arabic speaking 
background. However, St. Elias has become an American church made up of 
the melting pot that has made America. I congratulate the St. Elias 
parish on its 75th anniversary and wish the church continuing success.

                          ____________________