Abouna Firas Boutros Khoury Diabwas is the pastor of St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Zababdeh.

Abouna Firas Boutros Khoury Diabwas born in Zababdeh and is the grandson of the previous Melkite Greek Catholic Pastor, Abouna Stephanos (Stephen) Khoury Diab. Abouna Firas grew up with the dream of serving as pastor in his grandfather’s parish.

At the age of 14, Firas Diab entered Holy Savior Seminary in Beit Sahour, Palestine National Authority. After his graduation from high school, Firas studied two (2) years of Philosophy and four (4) years of Theology. He finished his studies in 1994.

In 2002, Firas Diab studied under his Mentor Priest. After graduation from the Seminary and prior to Ordination, men who are candidates for Deacon Ordination are required to spend time under the supervios of a Mentor Priest. Mentor Priest is a priest who is considered successful as a holy person and as a pastor. Firas Diab's Mentor Priest was the then Abouna Elias Chachour. Then Firas lived for several months in Ibillin. Additionally, he often stayed for several days in Ibillin.

On August 31, 2002, Firas Diab was ordained a Deacon by His Excellency, Archbishop Boutros Al- Mouallem. Sayedna Boutros, the Archbishop Akka, Haifa, Nazareth and All of Galilee, presided at the Ordination Divine Liturgy at Visitation Latin Catholic Church in Zababdeh. August 31 is the Commenoration of the Deposition of the Honorable Cincture of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God, in Calcoprateia

On December 14, 2002, Deacon Firas Diab was ordained a Priest by the same Sayedna at the same church in Zababdeh. December 14 is the Commenoration of the Holy Martyrs Thyrces, Leucius, Callinicus, Philemon and Apollonius.

Abouna Firas Khoury Diab is a married priest. His wife has the title of Khoureeyeh (The Priest’s Wife). Abouna Firas and his Khoureeyeh, Doris, have several children. Abouna Firas was a husband and a father prior to his ordination as a Deacon.

Abouna Firas and his Khoureeyeh are wonderful, gracious hosts. They speak, read, and write English.

Abouna, his Khoureeyeh, and their children live in the priest residence, "The Convent", which is located in the same building as the Church and the Kindergarten. (Now, a short history lesson. After this parish was established in the 1880’s, a residence for the priest was built. “Temporarily”, the “big room” of this residence became the Church until a Church was built. The Church has never been built and the “big room” of the residence is still the Church.)

Abouna Firas is the only employee of St. George Church. Then, he handles all Church matters.

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Mon, 10 Mar 2003

Hi may name is f.firas khoury diab in zababdeh pelestine.i studied im beit sahiur semanery 2years filosofy and 4years theology .i finished my study in 1994 and wait for 8years for my ordenation,in 14dec2003sidna butros almoualem ordened my priest in zababdeh and for zababdeh,jenin ,jalama ,and mqebleh.zababdeh and jenin and jelameh in west bank[peletine].but mqebleh in israel its very complex region and poletic.iam palestinin some time i cant go to hifa to my mutrania to meet with my bishop.or to meet with the priests in nazaret .alsoo i need to go for the needs of my pepole in pelestine.and to have some helps to renew my church that church had been closed from1985.iam priest from 4months and my church still closed we didnt find suport to renew it.and the politic situation didnt help me so much.this month i cant go to the priests meeting in hifa becuse the occuption and closers.pray for us in pelestin
[zababdeh].f.firas khoury

Tue, 4 Mar 2003

Dear friends my name is firas boutros khoury diab I was born in zababdeh in the disrrict of jenin the north section of the occupied west bank . my family has lived in zababdeh for generation among the ancient churches of the holly land my late grandfather was the last parish priest of the melkite community .since his death eighteen years ago the comunity has been left withhout a priest.since then our milkite brothers and sisters have joined the different christian parishes of our village .the flock scattered because there was no shepherd to care for them. on 14 december2002 bishop butros maalim ordained me priest.that ordination brought much encouragement to the inhabitants of our village it creted hope to the community all of them are enxious to come back home to pray in their traditionale way and to rejioin their mother church bishop maalem has entrusted to my care the community of zababdeh and jalameh and mqebleh and jenin .my deepest wish to gather my scatteredc my community since i was ordained i use all of my time vissiting my people encouraging them and comforting them. its not necessary to describe the political and social realities of living in an area military occupation the economy is not much better .the majority of our pepole live below the poverty line .many are not far from starvation .unemployment is hovering around 80 percent it would normally be unthinkable to expect pepole with no jobs to lend a hand in rebuilding our abandoned church .but not in our case.they may nothave money but they have skills of their hands a contribution which cannot be measured financially.ourmost urgent needisto reopen ourchurch and adjacent parish house both clossed for nearly twenty years .they are need of drastic repairs we thank you if you can help us renewing the church so we can return back praying in sant gourgious church. we need to do all ;removel of dirtroof,steel and concretereplacment,stell and ready mix concrete,interior plastering,tiling,fifteen windows,two doors safety steel,sis interior doors,sewage and water with sanitary facilities,elctricity wiring and lighting.total 63547 nis[shekels].if you can give us hand in this difficult time of intifada to give ourpepole a church to pray for the god of peace to sent his peace for our pepole[palistinins].sincerely fr.ustufanos diab parish priest.st georges melkite church zababdeh jenin pelestine.

Sat, 1 Mar 2003

Dear friends my name is f.firas butros khoury diab I was born in zababdeh in district of jenin ,the north section of the occupied west bank. my family has lived in this beautiful village for generrations,among the ancient churches of the holy land.my late grandfather was the last parish priest of the melkite community.since his death eighteen years ago,the community has been left without a priest since then our melkite brothers and sisters have joined the different christians parishes of our villege the flock scattered becuse ther was no shepherd to care for them.on december 14,2002 bishop butros maalem ordained me priest .that ordination brought much encoragment to the inhabitants of our village.its created hope to the community all of them are anxious to come back home to pray in their traditional way and to rejoin their mother church .bishop maalim has entrusted to my care the community of zababedeh 250melkite christians and jalama 70,jenin100,mqebeile 200, .after twenty five years of deprivation they have a pastor.ther was much joy and enthusiasm at my ordination and i was greatly encouraged.my deepest wish is to gather my scattered community.since i was ordained i use all of my time visiting people encouraging them and comforting them.we start bibile studies, and estern music [bsaltik] for the young pepole in my house becuse the church still need renewing .its not necessary to describe the political and social realities of living in an area under millitary occupation.the economy is not much better. the majority of our people live below the poverty line.many are not far from starvation.unemployment is hovering around 80 percent.it would normally be unthinkable to expect with no jobs to lend a hand in rebilding our abandoned church.but not in our case they may have not money but they have the skills of their hands a contribution which cannot be measured financially.our most urgent needs is to reopen our church and adjacent parish house both closed for nearly twenty years.they are is need of drastic repairs. we thank you to announce[tell]our brothers and sisters who like to renew God house .we invite our brothers and sisters ti come to visite us in the holly land .sincerely fr.ustufanos parish priest st.George,s melkite church zababdeh palistian.

These pictures were taken by Abouna Firas Khoury Diab and his family.