To spot St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, look for a grand white stone building with tall columns and a large gold and red face of Christ in a circular mosaic above the entrance-it's right across the street, standing out along the road.
Imagine you’re standing here in 1927, the Florida air buzzing with excitement as this grand temple opens its doors, originally as the First Church of Christ, Scientist. Picture those solid stone walls, the echo of footsteps on marble floors, and the sunlight glinting off stained glass as a brand-new congregation gathers inside. Fast forward through time-decades later, the building’s story takes a fascinating turn! The church you see before you is now St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, part of the ancient traditions of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Don’t be surprised if you catch a whiff of incense drifting through the heavy doors or hear a deep, melodious chant rolling out from within-these are the sounds and scents of centuries-old Orthodox ritual, under the guidance of Metropolitan Saba Isper and Father John E Hamatie. The building itself is a local treasure, so unique that it’s on the National Register of Historic Places-clearly, even buildings dream of a retirement plan! And here, just steps from Lake Eola, history and faith flow together like the gentle ripples of the lake. Whenever you stroll by, pause and listen-you might just hear the whispers of old prayers and new beginnings.
