Iconostasis |
Holy Table |
In June of 1985, Mrs Mary Ross, a life-long Orthodox Christian of Greek ancestry, began the
process of gathering other Orthodox Christians together to found a worshipping community. By
sitting down with the local telephone directory, she contacted every Orthodox "sounding" name of
all ethnic backgrounds. Soon she was joined in this effort by Mrs Nina Rubanov, Mrs Robin
Angelopolous, and Helen Rosolanka, longtime residents of the Victor Valley.
On October 12, 1985, Fr Theodore Pulcini served the first Divine Liturgy for the group at the
Hesperia Grange Hall on Main St in the city of Hesperia. The Mission continued to meet at the
Grange.
The mission was received into the Diocese of San Francisco and the West of the Orthodox Church
in America. The mission was served then by Rev Joseph Fester. Weekly services of Great Vespers
on Saturday evenings and Divine Liturgies on Sundays were started. These were the first Sunday
Liturgies of the Mission.
The mission relocated to the Hesperia Medical Center where the late Dr Edmund Moushabek
provided two rooms for the exclusive use of the mission. The mission was able to set up a chapel
and have space for fellowship and educational activities. Several members of the congregation
remodeled the interior of the rooms, built a small Iconostasis, purchased icons, and supplied the
mission with other necessary things that go into transforming a room into sacred space.
Fr John Schreiber, then Priest-in-Charge of St Anthony Orthodox Church, San Antonio, TX, was
assigned as the mission's first resident priest.
The present church is located in a building that previously hosted the local post office. By the grace
of God, the building was donated to the mission community and once again the congregation
joyfully and gratefully put in the necessary time, talent and treasure to completely renovate the
interior and, to some extent, the exterior of the building to create space for the church with
sacristy, a fellowship hall with kitchen, restrooms, and space for storage, education and offices. His
Grace, Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco and the West, blessed the building later that year.
On May 11, 1997, the feast of SS Cyril and Methodius (Apostles to the Slavic Lands) and Mother's
Day , Rev John Schreiber fell asleep in the Lord after a long bout with cancer. Through Fr John's
sacrifice and patience, and his deep abiding love for Christ, His Church, and those committed to his
charge, the mission slowly, and sometimes painfully, grew and became established.
The liturgical life of the mission has been enhanced to include regular midweek services and feast
days. The interior of the church has been further appointed to enhance worship according to the
liturgical heritage of the Orthodox Church in America while also reflecting the multi ethnic makeup
of the mission. A large space in the memorial park of a local mortuary has been donated for the
exclusive use of the Orthodox Christians of the Victor Valley.
Three priests of the Orthodox Church in America have since served the parish as pastors, Father
Michael Spainhoward, Father Paul Schellbauch and the present priest Father Gabriel Seamore.
Father Alexander also served the parish in the past on a part time basis.
The church has recently been repainted with new carpeting placed in the church and the hall. The
Sanctuary floor has been tiled. All the air conditioners and heaters have been repaired.
The vision of St George Mission is reflected in the words of the Prophet Micah: "The Lord hath
showed thee, O man, what is good. And what doth the Lord require of thee? To do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."
process of gathering other Orthodox Christians together to found a worshipping community. By
sitting down with the local telephone directory, she contacted every Orthodox "sounding" name of
all ethnic backgrounds. Soon she was joined in this effort by Mrs Nina Rubanov, Mrs Robin
Angelopolous, and Helen Rosolanka, longtime residents of the Victor Valley.
On October 12, 1985, Fr Theodore Pulcini served the first Divine Liturgy for the group at the
Hesperia Grange Hall on Main St in the city of Hesperia. The Mission continued to meet at the
Grange.
The mission was received into the Diocese of San Francisco and the West of the Orthodox Church
in America. The mission was served then by Rev Joseph Fester. Weekly services of Great Vespers
on Saturday evenings and Divine Liturgies on Sundays were started. These were the first Sunday
Liturgies of the Mission.
The mission relocated to the Hesperia Medical Center where the late Dr Edmund Moushabek
provided two rooms for the exclusive use of the mission. The mission was able to set up a chapel
and have space for fellowship and educational activities. Several members of the congregation
remodeled the interior of the rooms, built a small Iconostasis, purchased icons, and supplied the
mission with other necessary things that go into transforming a room into sacred space.
Fr John Schreiber, then Priest-in-Charge of St Anthony Orthodox Church, San Antonio, TX, was
assigned as the mission's first resident priest.
The present church is located in a building that previously hosted the local post office. By the grace
of God, the building was donated to the mission community and once again the congregation
joyfully and gratefully put in the necessary time, talent and treasure to completely renovate the
interior and, to some extent, the exterior of the building to create space for the church with
sacristy, a fellowship hall with kitchen, restrooms, and space for storage, education and offices. His
Grace, Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco and the West, blessed the building later that year.
On May 11, 1997, the feast of SS Cyril and Methodius (Apostles to the Slavic Lands) and Mother's
Day , Rev John Schreiber fell asleep in the Lord after a long bout with cancer. Through Fr John's
sacrifice and patience, and his deep abiding love for Christ, His Church, and those committed to his
charge, the mission slowly, and sometimes painfully, grew and became established.
The liturgical life of the mission has been enhanced to include regular midweek services and feast
days. The interior of the church has been further appointed to enhance worship according to the
liturgical heritage of the Orthodox Church in America while also reflecting the multi ethnic makeup
of the mission. A large space in the memorial park of a local mortuary has been donated for the
exclusive use of the Orthodox Christians of the Victor Valley.
Three priests of the Orthodox Church in America have since served the parish as pastors, Father
Michael Spainhoward, Father Paul Schellbauch and the present priest Father Gabriel Seamore.
Father Alexander also served the parish in the past on a part time basis.
The church has recently been repainted with new carpeting placed in the church and the hall. The
Sanctuary floor has been tiled. All the air conditioners and heaters have been repaired.
The vision of St George Mission is reflected in the words of the Prophet Micah: "The Lord hath
showed thee, O man, what is good. And what doth the Lord require of thee? To do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."
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