The Knights of St George
by Ken George
Imagine living in a world with no cell phones, no email, no airplanes, no AI, no social media, or television. Also imagine that you live in a world where you constantly fear for your life and the lives of your family. This fear is real. Others who are more powerful do not like your religious beliefs or how you practice them. You are persecuted because of your faith. Many of your friends, brothers, sisters, cousins, and others leave your world and travel to a new country filled with hope of a better way of life. This new country offers unimaginable opportunities. You can take your family to this new country and raise them in a safe community where religious freedom prevails. You no longer live in fear of your love of Jesus Christ. Sadly, you will find it very difficult to communicate with your parents and others whom you left behind in the ‘old country’. Perhaps you will never see them again.
So it began for many Arab immigrants who came to the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These new Americans clustered in communities throughout the country especially in Eastern and Midwestern states. Indianapolis became a city in which many Lebanese and Syrian immigrants clustered. They found each other and remained close. Many lived in neighborhoods in central Indianapolis. They gathered at each other’s homes. They continued their culture by remaining close-knit. Their culture always included food, talking about the ‘old country’ and their experiences in this new land. They danced, ate, laughed, and worked hard to earn a living. They married, they had children, but, for many, something very important was missing. The vast majority of these immigrants were Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox Christians. Those who were Orthodox had no house of worship. A few times a year a visiting Orthodox priest would come to one home and all would gather to practice their faith. Many of these people visited other Christian churches, but it left them wanting for their own church. They wanted to glorify God and grow in their faith in a way that was more familiar to them.
Determined to start their own church, the Indianapolis immigrants organized The Knights of St. George on February 8, 1925. On that date the Knights of St. George was officially chartered by the Secretary of State of Indiana. The first officers of this organization were Salim K. Freije, President; John Hider, Vice President; A. G. Corey, Secretary; and Abraham Joseph, Treasurer.
The Knights set a goal of erecting a church building in Indianapolis for all Orthodox faithful to worship and continue to practice their faith in a way in which they were raised and baptized. Under the leadership of The Knights of St. George, the community began a fundraising campaign to raise a hefty sum of $15,000. That was the estimated building cost in the 1920s to erect a church at 2745 N. North Sherman Drive in Indianapolis. Their goal was to celebrate Great Lent and Pascha in their new church in 1926. Many fund-raising ideas proved fruitful in this endeavor. For example, women of the community solicited donations in the downtown area while wearing white ribbons marked with Syrian Orthodox Church.
Eleven months after the inception of The Knights of St. George, St. George Syrian Orthodox Church held its first service on January 26, 1926. Rev. John Corey was assigned as the first full-time priest of the parish. Almost 100 years ago, those Syrian and Lebanese immigrants found a place to practice their Orthodox faith. Their new world was, at last, so much better!
Within a few years, it was apparent that the parish lacked a place to celebrate special occasions such as wedding receptions or other parties. They wanted their own building or social hall for such gatherings. The Great Depression made it very difficult to get funds for such a building. However, with determination and guidance from the Knights, The Knights of St. George Social Hall was built and opened in June 1935. Many parishioners helped in the actual construction to keep costs down. This social hall became the venue for most celebrations within the community. It became a community gathering place where the church members frequently met and socialized.
The Knights of St. George remained active in the life of the church. Published yearbooks date back to 1947. There are probably more, but none were found for this writing. Some parishioners who remember the Knights state that the organization remained active until the mid-1950s. That time remains unverified. Sometime in the 1950s, the organization became inactive.
Around the year 2011, the organization was re-vitalized by efforts of Very Rev Fr. Nabil Hanna, the parish priest, and several parishioners. With leadership by Fr. Nabil, the group would meet for discussions and to socialize. After a while, the focus shifted to helping others. The members assisted when a parishioner was in need. For example, they assisted in moving a parishioner who purchased a home. They helped in the construction of a new storage barn on church property. They worked on developing the amphitheater retaining wall on the church property in 2015. There were many other tasks performed by the newly formed Knights. Today, the Knights meet periodically for socialization and to continue the brotherhood which began 100 years ago by a group of determined Syrian and Lebanese men.
We now live in a world with cell phones, email, jet travel, AI, social media, and television with myriad channels at our fingertips. We have so much more than our church founders ever thought possible. For many of us, those founders were our grandparents and great-grandparents. They traveled here to better their lives and the lives of their families. They built a Church. And what a magnificent Church it turned out to be 100 years later!