Saint George Parish is the Northern Melkite Greek Catholic Parish in the West Bank. This Melkite Parish serves the people in Zababdeh and its surrounding cities, including Jenin. St. George Parish is part of the Eparchy of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth, and All of Galilee.

Within Zababdeh, the parish members, who are called the “Living Stones", include approximately 350 people (about 120 adults and about 230 children) in about 65 households. Some parish members live in neighboring cities and towns. St. George Parish has one priest, Abouna Firas Khoury Diab. This Parish is over 120 years old.

The Mission of St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Parish is to serve the Melkite Community in the Northern West Bank: spiritually, socially, mentally, physically, and economically. Spiritually: To enable each person to go to heaven, to facilitate each person's spiritual growth, and to assist each person to attend Liturgies. Socially: To ease membership into the community, to strengthen the community, and to expand the community. Mentally: To increase the educational opportunities of each person, to encourage each person's mental growth, and to keep each person in school. Physically: To reduce malnutrition, to increase medical care, and to improve people's health. Economically: To reduce the very high rate of unemployment and underemployment, to provide jobs, and to increase income.

To accomplish this Mission, the pastor of St. George Church, Abouna Firas Khoury Diab, implemented the following items. The Spiritual Mission is implemented by celebrating Liturgies, offering spiritual counseling, and building a new church. The Social Mission is implemented by providing Saint Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) Community Park, hosting birthday parties, and meeting with Abouna. The Mental Mission is implemented by providing Saint Ann (Al-Qiddissah Hannah) Kindergarten, operating an "Adopt a Child" Program, and teaching religious education. The Physical Mission is implemented by giving free food, by paying for medical treatment, and by providing Saint Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias) Community Park. The Economic Mission is implemented by creating employment projects, operating an "Adopt a Child" Program, and encouraging donations. These Employment Projects are the Candle Project, the Embroidery Project, the Incense Project, the Olive Oil Project, the Olive Oil Soap Bar Project, the Olive Wood Project, the Sewing Project, and the Tourist Project.

Patron Saint

Over 120 years, Saint George Melkite Greek Catholic Church was blessed. The patron of this Church is Holy Great-Martyr George (Mar Giries) the Triumphant. Holy Great-Martyr George was a Christian Roman Army leader, who showed great courage and converted many people. The tradition is that he was martyred in the local area.

We thank all the people who contributed prayers, time, effort, and money.

History

Information abount the history of St. George Parish is available.

Some of these pictures were taken by Abouna Firas Khoury Diab.
Some of these pictures were taken by Marthame and Elizabeth Sanders. Their Web site is Salt of the Earth - Palestinian Christians in the Northern West Bank.