The Very Rev. Fr. George Baalbaki serves as the parish priest of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in San Francisco, California.
After graduating from St. John of Damascus University in Lebanon, Father George served as pastor of Holy Cross Church in Damascus, Syria from 1986-1997.
From 1997-1998 Fr. George served as dean of the Patriarchate Cathedral Dormition of St. Mary. During his early years, Fr. George was a member in the Appeals Spiritual Court in Damascus, Syria. In 1998 Fr. George was moved to St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Berkley, Michigan where he served for 14 years and continued his education to receive a Doctorate of Ministry in Theology from the University of Pittsburgh. Very Reverend Fr. George was also elevated to the position of Archpriest.
Since August of 2012, the Very Reverened Fr. George has presided at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in San Francisco.
Fr. George with his family, Christmas Eve
Very Rev. Father Gregory Ofiesh, Pastor Emeritus 1964 – 2000, Memory Eternal!
The Very Reverend Father Gregory Ofiesh, born Raymond Ofiesh was born on August 13th, 1931 in New Kensington, Penn. to the late Khouyria Emily Ofiesh and the Very Reverend Father Nicholas Ofiesh, of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. The 10th of 13 children, upon his graduation from New Kensington High School, he earned a Certificate in Business and Accounting from New Kensington Commercial College. He then attended Duquesne University where he received a BA in Philosophy with a minor in Latin and Greek. He then studied Theology at Holy Cross Theological Seminary in Brookline, MA and ultimately received his BA in Theology from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, NY. In 1958 he received a MA degree in Religious Education with a minor in Pastoral Psychology. At the University of Pittsburgh he studied Psychology and Child Development, and held teaching credentials in History and Political Science.
Father Gregory met his beloved wife Mary Jane (Saleet) from Natrona Heights, Penn. at his father's church in New Kensington, Penn. They were married in February, 1959 and he was ordained an Orthodox Christian Priest in the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America in March, 1959. From 1959-1964 he was pastor of St. Elijah Orthodox Church in Oklahoma City, Okla. and from 1964 until 2000 he was pastor of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in San Francisco, where he remained Pastor Emeritus. Father Gregory was active in the Bay Area at many levels including prison ministry, immigration, criminal justice and the social and educational needs of those less fortunate than most. Over the years he worked with key figures on issues related to Arab American Immigration and Anti-Discrimination, the Middle East conflict and the rights of children and youth, including working with Pope Paul VI, Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson and Bush and local Mayors, George Christopher, George Moscone, Jack Shelley, Joe Allioto and Art Agnos. A tireless advocate of children in the juvenile justice system, he founded six residential group homes for children who were wards of the court, St. Nicholas Youth Homes. Upon retirement at St. Nicholas he was honored to assist on the altar with his friend and brother in Christ, Fr. Stephen Kyriacou at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in San Francisco, whose parishioners he loved and enjoyed getting to know.
Father Gregory loved to read history, politics and philosophy and enjoyed swimming as often as possible. He was often seen at his children's businesses in San Mateo (Nick's Deli) and South San Francisco (Raymond's Sourdough Bakery Corporation) laughing and socializing with the local community. He loved San Francisco with all his heart and was proud of his community. His last five years and passing was graced with the love and care of Pela Manukainiu, Soko Tau, Fatan Barranti and Dr. Paul Fitzgerald of UCSF for which the family will be eternally grateful.
Fr. Gregory reposed in the Lord on August 11, 2021.
Rev. Deacon John Dibs
Deacon John is the son of the late Mary and Dr. George Dibs from Southern California. John attended St. Luke Church in Garden Grove, Calif. from childhood. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley (B.A., History, 1984) and St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1987). In the past he served as Western Region and NAC Teen SOYO president, on the editorial board of The Word magazine, and on the Executive Committee of SYNDESMOS, the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth Organizations (1983 to 1986). John volunteered as a parish assistant at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Juneau, Alaska (OCA) in the summer 1984, was a member of the St. Vladimir’s Seminary Octet in the summer 1985, and volunteered at the SYNDESMOS Secretariat in Kuopio, Finland in the summer 1986.
John married Irena Szydlowska from Hajnowka, Poland in 1990. He served as choir director at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (OCA) in San Anselmo, Calif. in 1991 and 1992, then assisted at All Saints Antiochian Mission in Rohnert Park, Calif. from 1994 until 2004. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on December 9, 2001 at St. Nicholas Church in San Francisco, and later served as a deacon at St. Timothy Antiochian Orthodox Church in Fairfield from 2005 to 2016, when he moved to Silicon Valley for work. From 2016 to 2023 Deacon John served at Church of the Redeemer in Los Altos Hills. Deacon John and Shamassy Irena retired and moved to Fairfield where Dn. John was reassigned to St. Timothy before transferring to St. Nicholas in San Francisco. They have four adult children living in the Bay Area: John, Michael, Gregory, and Maria.
Subdeacon Michael Khoury+ Memory Eternal
Subdeacon Ilyan Baalbaki
Subdeacon Tariq Rantisi
