Metr. Saba Celebrates Centennial of Niagara Falls Parish

NIAGARA FALLS, NY — St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Niagara Falls celebrated its 100th anniversary on September 12–13, 2026, with Metr. Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America joining parishioners for a weekend of worship, fellowship, and remembrance.

The parish traces its origins to the ministry of traveling priests who served Lebanese and Greek immigrants in Niagara Falls during the early twentieth century. St. George Church was formally established in 1926, and the community later built its present campus in the late 1970s. The church was consecrated in 1980 by Abp. Michael (Shaheen), of thrice-blessed memory.

Metr. Saba began the centennial weekend by meeting with the parish council for breakfast and discussing efforts to invest in and strengthen the community. He later joined parishioners for a boat tour of Niagara Falls and celebrated Great Vespers. A banquet that evening brought together former and current parishioners from the United States and Canada, with a slideshow highlighting the church’s history from 1926 through 2026.

During the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, Metr. Saba elevated Fr. Raphael Barberg, the parish pastor, to the dignity of archpriest and tonsured Colin Barberg as a reader. He also inducted Scott Slaiman and upgraded Gayle Fadel as Life Members of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Metr. Saba additionally blessed a new outdoor mosaic of St. George donated by the Saba family in memory of their parents and sister. Following the Liturgy, he participated in a parish picnic and held question-and-answer sessions with Sunday School students, the Antiochian Women, and young adults. His weekend visit coincided with the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, which he connected with the parish’s hopes for its next century.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Saba visited three western Pennsylvania parishes.