The Orthodox Faith

Orthodox means “right believing” in Greek. We do not change our beliefs to follow every doctrinal fad but strive to remain faithful to the teachings of Christ and His Apostles. As an Orthodox Church, we are united with over three hundred million Orthodox Christians all over the world, from Moscow to Johannesburg, from Hong Kong to Fort Bend County. There are almost five million Orthodox Christians in the United States. The Orthodox Church is the original Christian Church, founded by Our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Church found in the pages of the New Testament. Her history can be traced in unbroken continuity all the way back to Christ and His Apostles. Because we are Orthodox, we do not change our beliefs and practices according to the fads of secular society but strive to be faithful to the truth taught by Christ and preserved by His Holy Church for almost 2,000 years.

Orthodoxy in the U.S.

North and South America were colonized by the empire-building nations of Western Europe, which were predominantly either Roman Catholic or Protestant. By the time the immigrants from the Orthodox countries began arriving in large numbers in the early 1900s, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches were permanent fixtures on the American landscape. The Orthodox immigrants settled in ethnic neighborhoods where they could speak their native language, practice their ethnic customs, and share their traditional foods with each other. They established Orthodox churches in those neighborhoods to serve their religious needs in their native language.

In most cases, the Orthodox Parish Hall serves as the social center for these ethnic communities. Dances, dinners, concerts, and celebrations of all kinds (weddings, baptisms, bridal showers, anniversaries, etc.) are held there. Although these Orthodox Churches are primarily vibrant and healthy, they are often isolated from the rest of the population by language, culture, and ethnic pride. In the late 1900s, second and third generations of Orthodox began to establish Orthodox Churches in which the services are in English (which is their native language). With the language barrier broken, a steady stream of people have investigated and experienced Orthodoxy, and have become Orthodox. The Orthodox Church is now the fastest growing denomination in the United States with approximately 6 million members.

The Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste Church

The Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste Church part of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the American branch of the ancient Church of Antioch where, “the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” {Acts 11:26} Thus our Church was not organized a few hundred years ago but traces its history in an unbroken chain back to the Apostles themselves. Since its founding by the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Church of Antioch has preserved without change or alteration the teachings of Christ to His Disciples. Because we are the Church of the New Testament, we believe that the Holy Scriptures are not merely human documents, but were divinely inspired and given to us by God to tell us the truth about God and our relationship with Him.

The Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste Church is a Christ-Centered Church. Members of the Orthodox Church believe that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God. We believe that He is the full and complete revelation of God to humanity and the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Finally, we believe that Christ is the perfect God and perfect man. That is He is God who became one of us to unite what we are with God, and that He conquered sin and death by His life-giving death and glorious resurrection.

The Very Reverend Father Joseph Gereige

Father Joseph was born and raised in an Orthodox Christian home in the quaint village of Tal Abbas Al- Gharbi, Akkar min Lebanon. His father, The Very Reverent Father Khalil, was the priest of Tal Abbas’ St Mary Church.

He studied At Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, Lebanon, where he received a Master’s Degree of Theology-Pastoral Care in 2007.

On August 17, 2003, Father Joseph and Diala Chahmini, (a former french teacher) were united in Holy Matrimony. Father Joseph and Khouriya Diala are the proud parents of two boys: Nijad , and Roland.

He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on September 8, 2003 at St. Mary Church, Tal Abbas Al-Gharby, Lebanon, and ordained to the Holy Priesthood on July 19, 2005 at the same church in Tal Abbas.

He taught religion at the Orthodox National High School of Akkar, from 2003 – 2007.

Fastherr Joseph was elevated to the rank and dignity of Archpriest on January 24, 2015, by His Grace Bishop Thomas Joseph.

The following is a chronology of Fr. Joseph’s priesthood and pastoral service:
– 2005 – 2007: St Mary Church, Akkar, Lebanon.
– 2007 – 2010 : St. Ignatius Church, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
– 2010 – 2013 : Orthodox Archdiocese of Akkar, Cheikh Taba, Lebanon.
– 2013 – 2018 : St George Orthodox Church, Altoona, PA
– 2018 – Present : Forty Holy Martyrs Antiochian Church, Sugar Land, TX.