St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

كنيسة القديس جاورجيوس للروم الانطاكيين الارثوذكس

San Diego- California - سان ديغو- كاليفورنيا

Pastor

Presiding Officer, Representing the Metropolitan at all times
Reverend Father Mansour Azar In September 2013 Reverend Father Mansour was received in the Antiochian Archdioceses of North America and was appointed as Assistant Pastor for Saint George Church Phoenix, Arizona, and in July 1st 2017 he was appointed as Pastor of St. George Church in Upland, California. And Since November 1st 2024, he is the appointed Pastor for Saint George Church in San Diego.

Chairman

Mr. Ayman Battikha Elected Year Term Starts 2024 Year Term Ends 2026 1st Term I began attending Saint George Church in January 1997 after moving to San Diego, CA from Amman, Jordan. In 2004, I joined the parish council as a member and served as treasurer in 2005 and 2006. I rejoined the parish council in 2018 and have been serving ever since. In 2021, I had the privilege of serving as treasurer once more and became the parish council chairman in 2022, a role I continue to hold today. I am married to Rania Battikha and have three children, Adel, Lina and Alex.  I enjoy serving my Church and continually seek to grow spiritually within our Orthodox faith.

Vice Chairman

Mr. Mitchell Martha
Elected
Year Term Starts 2025
Year Term Ends 2027
1st Term

Mitchell Martha is a dedicated member of Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church, currently serving as Vice Chairman of the Parish Council. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and has been an active member of the community for over 8 years, previously serving as Secretary and Vice Chairman. Mitchell is married to Catherine Martha, who serves as the Church School Director, and together they are raising two children: Michael, 15 and Amelia, 11. Their son, Michael, serves as an altar boy at the church. With a strong commitment to both his faith and community, Mitchell strives to contribute to the continued growth and success of Saint George.

Treasurer

Mr. Amjad Battikha
Elected
Year Term Starts 2025
Year Term Ends 2027
2nd Term

Secretary

Sub-Deacon Atallah (Kevin) Tarazi
Elected
Year Term Starts 2023
Year Term Ends 2025
1st Term

Kevin Tarazi serves as the Secretary of the Parish Council. A lifelong resident of San Diego, he has been a member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church for nearly three decades. His service to the church began at the age of seven, assisting his father in the altar. In 2014, he was tonsured by Bishop Joseph and elevated to the rank of Sub-Deacon Atallah. Furthermore, he holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership.

Sub-Deacon Atallah has contributed to St. George in numerous capacities. His initial involvement with the Parish Council was as the Teen SOYO Director. He remains dedicated to mentoring new altar servers and generously volunteers for various church ministries and events

Member

Mr. Victor Misleh
Appointed
Year Term Starts 2024
Year Term Ends 2026
1st Term

Since 1976, Victor Misleh has been a resident of San Diego. He is a dedicated member of Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church, where he has served on the Parish Council and as an Altar Server for many years. He is married to Nancy Ghanayem Misleh, and they have three sons and two daughters-in-law. For over four decades, Mr. Misleh has been self-employed in the food industry.

Member

Mr. Ramzi Battikha
Elected
Year Term Starts 2023
Year Term Ends 2025
2nd Term

Married to Sandy Battikha and 3 Children, Andre, Alexis, and Dylan.
Remodel Contractor, owner of Step Ahead Floors, Inc.
My family has been attending St George Anriochian Orthodox church since 1984.
We love to be involved in the church spiritually and enjoy to be involved in all ministries of the church.
Served as Chairman of the board 2009 and 2022.  Been serving on the parish council off and on since 2006.

Member

Mrs. Catherine Martha
Church School Superindentant

Catherine Martha has been serving as the Church School Director at Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church since 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and has a passion for working with her teachers to educate the children of the parish about the Orthodox faith. Catherine is married to Mitchell Martha, the Vice Chairman of the Parish Council, and together they have two children: Michael, 15 and Amelia, 11. She is deeply committed to fostering the spiritual growth of the young members of the church community. With her leadership and dedication, Catherine continues to make a meaningful impact on the Church School program at Saint George.

Member

Miss. Chantelle Tarazi
Elected
Year Term Starts 2024
Year Term Ends 2026
1st Term

I have been an active member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church for about 30 years, having been baptized and raised within the parish. I have volunteered for conventions, festivals, and church events and taught Sunday School. I am currently serving on the Parish Council, helping with various needs around and for the church. I am passionate about fostering a welcoming environment, community outreach, and spiritual growth through active involvement.

Member

Mr. Mike Zeiter
Men’s Fellowship President

Member

Mr. Paul Barghouth
Teen SOYO AdvisorMember

Member

Mrs. Suhair Koussa
Ladies President

Member

Mr. Wael Ahwal
Appointed
Year Term Starts 2025
Year Term Ends 2027
1st Term

Member

Mr. Andrew Zaghloul
Elected
Year Term Starts 2023
Year Term Ends 2025
2nd Term

The Parish Council assists the Priest in all aspects of Church operations, especially in managing finances and organizing ministries. This is a sacred ministry and is open to all members of the Parish who are in good spiritual and financial standing, having been members for at least one full year. It is made up of nine members who serve three-year terms each, and three ex-officio members who are the leaders of the Ladies, Teen SOYO, and the Church school. As for the nine members, two (2) of them are appointed by the Pastor from the Voting Members, and the other seven (7) members are elected by and from the Voting Membership of the church.

The Parish Council meetings are always held in the church facility; they begin and end with a prayer and they are always conducted with the Pastor present.

The voting member is the pledged member who is committed to his pledge.

The elected members shall be elected from the nominated voting members in good standing who are twice as many as the vacancies to be filled and who have shown their willingness to serve.

The Pastor shall be the official representative of the Metropolitan Archbishop.

The Parish Council shall be the representative of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in the administration of its properties and affairs.

The constitution and the sacred Canons shall be the governing code of St. George Church.

All administrative authority is vested in the Pastor and Parish council.

All legislative authority is vested in the general meeting of the Voting Membership of St. George Church.

The parish council mindset derives from the following text from (James 1: 19-27):

“19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Doers–Not Hearers Only 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [in it,] and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion [is] useless. 27 Pure and undefined religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

The Parish Council Guidebook states:

“If you desire to serve God and your community, then leave your personal agenda on the sidewalk outside; don’t even bring it onto the Church grounds. When you come to church the only agenda should be love…. If you have disagreements settle them outside the meeting. When you advertise your disagreements, you demoralize the entire community…. Remember that the Parish Council is not a democratic body, but a symphonic orchestra. Keep Christ in the forefront of your thoughts, and you will have harmony.”

As a general guidelines to become nominated to the Parish Council:

  • All nominated should be approved by the Pastor, this approval will assure that all the Parish Council service outlined in the Guidebook and in the constitution are applied.
  • All nominated should have knowledge and understanding of the theology and practices of the Orthodox Church and the attitude that there is more to learn about faith.
  • All nominated should have good and regular attendance at church service as established faithful members.
  • All those who serve at the Parish council should be serving the parish in at least one other capacity.
  • Parish council members should reflect the various segments of the parish population in terms of gender, age and background both culturally and professionally.

It is an honor to serve at the Parish Council.