Saint George Antioch Orthodox Church

Attracted more by economic opportunities than oppression, people from many countries in West Asia and North Africa began to come to Cleveland at the end of 19. Although most parts of the world are * * *, these early immigrants are often Christians who learned about America from Protestant missionaries. The new residents mainly settled in Tremont (south) and Haima City (now south of Tacheng Center). 19 1 1 year, they established a congregation and later became the Antioch Orthodox Church of St. George (the Principality of Antioch was established during the First Crusade (1096- 1099), including parts of Turkey and Syria now). Many of these newcomers-most of them actually came from Lebanon (then part of Greater Syria)-frequented St. elias Byzantine Catholic Church on Webster Avenue, which is near Carnegie Avenue and between East 9th Street and 14 Street. Members of St. George used St. Elias because St. George's only priest was moved to another city. However, in 1926, a group of believers rebuilt St. George. 1927, a new priest came here and held ceremonies in various places, including the billiards room of Gray's armory. 1928, the congregation purchased the Linkin Park Methodist Church (built in 1892) located at West 14 Street and Starkweiser Avenue. Soon after, the fire destroyed almost all parts of the building, and church members raised more than 40 thousand dollars for reconstruction. The rebuilt St. George's Church was completed in 1935. The congregation rebuilt the church in Byzantine style, with a dome on the steeple and a gorgeous altar screen made by Damascus native daud Dube. Some details, such as broad gables, circular arches above windows, relatively short square towers and conical roofs, also show Richardson's Romanesque style. But the onion-shaped decorative strip on the top of the bell tower can better reflect the unique cultural and religious details of the congregation.