The History of The First Pan-Orthodox Parish In The Antiochian Archdiocese

St. Anthony Orthodox Church has a unique history within the story of Orthodox Christianity in North America.

On July 3,1956 the late Metropolitan Antony Bashir presented a charter for a new Church to seven founders. The founders’ mission was unique -- to create a Pan-Orthodox parish comprised of Orthodox Christians from the traditional cultures of Eastern Christianity such as Greek, Serbian, Slavic, and Middle Eastern. Services would be conducted in English. The founders were Mitchell Moore, Theodore Maloof, Abraham G. Debs, George Shamyer, Alex Sahadi, Edward Deeb, and George A. Hatab. The new church was placed under the patronage of St. Anthony the Great, the Father of Monasticism for the entire Christian World, East and West. It was hoped that the missionary zeal of St. Anthony's would galvanize and bond together the parish’s various cultures as it embraced all who would look for the truth of Orthodox Christianity.

However, St. Anthony's parish has not always had easy sailing; many years of hard work, dedicated service, committed families, outstanding personalities, and tribulations of various kinds, have helped to shape this parish into one of the most illustrious communities in the Orthodox "oikoumene" (ecclesiastical world). This would be no surprise to anyone who knows the vibrancy and action-filled community which is found at 385 Ivy Lane, Bergenfield, New Jersey.

In 1961, and with much debate, the growing parish acquired two parcels of land, approximating one acre, at the crossroads of three Bergen County towns: Bergenfield, Englewood and Tenafly. In November, architects Harsens and Johns were selected to construct a church, budgeted for $135,000, that would blend Byzantine tradition with the New World. The property, at 385 Ivy Lane, also included an existing residential building. The new church was dedicated in 1964. Metropolitan Antony Bashir and all the local Orthodox Clergy celebrated the first Divine Liturgy.  That same year the dedication was featured on a nationally broadcast TV program, “Lamp Unto My Feet”.

In 1965, Father Ashie left St. Anthony’s to serve another English-speaking Pan-Orthodox Church in California. Father Michael Irwin became the next priest. After two years, Father Michael Irwin left to serve as a missionary in Alaska and as Assistant to Bishop Theodosius.

Our third and present pastor, Father Joseph Allen came to St. Anthony's in 1967. Except for a brief two year period when Father Daniel Daly served us, Father Joseph has faithfully guided our parish. Father Joseph, who holds a Doctorate Degree in Theology (Th.D), has been a professor at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA from 1977 to 1984 and St. Vladimir Seminary in Crestwood, NY from 1978 to 1992. He has written and edited eleven books on Orthodox Theology and many articles in various publications. He currently is the Director of the Department for Theological and Pastoral Education in our Archdiocese and National Chaplain of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch. He is also Director of the Antiochian House of Studies and St. Stephen's Course of Studies in Orthodox Theology.

As St. Anthony’s grew during the late 1960s and 1970s, it became apparent that the parish’s physical plant had to expand. Thus in 1976, we broke ground for our present Church Hall, including a kitchen, stage and bathrooms. This opened up the possibilities for an increase social calendar in which we no longer had to reserve and rent outside locations to celebrate our various social functions. When the beautiful Church Hall was finally completed we began to hold such occasions as Spring Soirées and Fall Dances, as well as Wine Fests and Art Auctions. But by far the greatest undertaking was our International Festival which draws large crowds to our various ethnic foods and the opportunity for pre-Christmas shopping. First held in the new Church Hall in 1977, most every parishioners participates today in the preparation and work in this major fundraiser.

Over fifty years of community life has produced many annual events and parish ministry teams. Outreach Sunday, in January, celebrates our patronal feast day and also serves as way to welcome new parishioners and reconnect with old ones. Christian Education includes preschool to Adult Education. Teen Ministry includes Koinonia discussion sessions, lock-ins, and a full schedule of activities, both social and humanitarian. The Ladies’ Guild, now called the Women’s Guild, organizes fundraising drives for humanitarian causes and hosts a variety of parish activities.  We have a committed Choir and Chanters. The Fellowship provides a number of social events including a Lenten Communion Breakfast, Pre-Lent Mardi-Gras, spring golf outing and Parish Picnic. Finally, the Archdiocese’ Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch is well represented, with our community, boasting one of the highest percentages of parishioners who are members of the Order.