Part 2: Establishment of the St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish in Portland, OR

Beginnings

By the late 1960s, three Syriac Orthodox families had immigrated to Portland. Deacon Jacob Shukri, his wife Wadia, and their children moved to Portland from Bethlehem, Palestine.  Ilian Trad, his wife Imojin, and their children immigrated from Homs, Syria. Matti Totonchy arrived from Mosul, Iraq. These families befriended each other and met for evening house prayers.

Society in Portland

In 1973, Bishop Barnaba of Homs, Syria visited Portland and met with the Syriac faithful, which had grown to 8 families. Following his suggestion, the faithful established a society in Portland for the Syriac community. The society met once a month in a rental hall of a local bank for prayers, and raised money by conducting bake sales and collecting monthly dues and donations.

Finances

St. Ignatius Parish is Located in SE Portland, OR, near Reed College

By 1983 the society began to search for a church to purchase, with the blessing of Archbishop Yeshue Samuel of North America and Canada. The search ended in 1988, when they found a church in South East Portland on sale for $175,00. At this point the society had raised $100,000, but could not get a bank loan for the remaining amount. They sought donations from the Syriac communities in California and New Jersey, which generously gave $50,000. The last $25,000 was covered by personal donations from within the Portland community, which had grown to 12 families. Deacon Jacob Shukri retired from his work, spent time in New Jersey learning the Syriac language, and agreed to accept ordination to the priesthood, serving the church without a salary. Each family pledged to pay monthly dues to support the church.

St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish

Letter of Invitation to the Syriac Orthodox faithful in North America for the consecration of St. Ignatius Parish and the Ordination of Fr. Shukri, as well as a request for donations to help pay off the remaining balance on the church.

Consecration and Ordination

On August 28, 1988 Archbishop Samuel, together with Archbishop Yohanna Brahim of Aleppo, Syria consecrated the St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Portland and ordained Fr. Jacob Shukri. In his sermon, Archbishop Brahim called the community in Portland the little flock, citing Luke 12:32: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” and pointing out that the 12 families in Portland mimicked by their number the 12 disciples of Christ.

Archbishops Yohanna Brahim (front left) and Yeshue Samuel (front right) with the original St. Ignatius Parish council following consecration

 

Archbishop Yeshue Samuel ordains Fr. Jacob Shukri, first priest of St. Ignatius Parish.

  

Syriac Orthodox Convention in Portland, OR

Convention

In 1990, the the Syriac Orthodox Convention of North America was held in Portland. The Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas attended, drawing visitors from all over the world.

A Personal Note

One of the original founders of the parish, Matti Totonchy, is my father. He can be seen in the final picture, second from the right, wearing a stylish light blue suit and donning his signature mustache. He has expended much effort and time out of love for his Church, serving on the parish council and as a deacon for nearly 25 years. I count it as a great blessing to have a father who has worked so hard to promote the Orthodox Christian faith.