ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Syrian Orthodox community of Allentown came together Sunday for a one-day festival to raise funds for victims of an attack on a church Mass in Damascus, Syria.
The festival, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, sought to help the people of Prophet Elias Church (Mar Elisa) after a suicide bomb detonated June 22 during an evening Mass.
It killed 25 people and wounded more than 50 others.
"Many of the victims are still suffering from the complications of the tragedy. The [people] in Damascus also need the basics — food, medicine, and safety — things many of us here can’t imagine living without."
The Rev. Meletios Zafaran, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church pastor
Allentown has 12,000-15,000 Syrian residents — the largest Syrian Christian community in the United States outside New York and Los Angeles, St. George pastor the Rev. Meletios Zafaran said.
Zafaran grew up in Sahnaya, a Damascus suburb.
Many of St. George's parishioners still have direct family connections in Damascus, the country's capital, and get live updates with late-night phone calls, Facebook messages and via WhatsApp, he said.
"I have spoken to the Acrhdiosese, who told me 10 days ago, one of the victims, who was 53 years old, passed away," Zafaran said.
"Many of the victims are still suffering from the complications of the tragedy.
“The [people] in Damascus also need the basics — food, medicine, and safety — things many of us here can’t imagine living without."
A showcase of Syrian food, culture
More than 100 volunteers helped run the festival, with a team of women preparing trays of tabbouleh, shawarma and kebabs in the church kitchen.
Teens and other parishioners were in charge of the setup outside.
The fundraiser was smaller than the church’s annual three-day Heritage Festival, which celebrated its 43rd year in June, but the spirit of sharing culture remained central.
"Part of what we want to show people is who we are. We love to welcome people with our food, our songs and our hospitality. Syrians are resilient and joyful. We want that to be what people see.”
Maria Zafaran
“This is about unity,” said Albert Bitar, president of St. George's parish council.
“We know the need in Syria is overwhelming, but if we can offer even a fraction of support — whether financial or through prayer — then we’ve done our part.”
The daylong festival featured an array of Syrian foods — kibbee (a grilled patty of cracked wheat and grilled beef), tabbouli (a veggie dish with lemony dressing, parsley, green onion, tomatoes, and mint, grape leaves (wrapped with meat and rice), and flaky baklava.
As people gathered around outdoor dining tables, a DJ spun a mix of Syrian Dabke dance tracks.
"Part of what we want to show people is who we are,” Zafaran's daughter, Maria, said.
“We love to welcome people with our food, our songs and our hospitality. Syrians are resilient and joyful. We want that to be what people see.”
Urging peace, standing together
Sunday wasn't the first time the parish has rallied to support the war-torn country.
St. George — through the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America — held fundraisers in 2013 and 2015 during the Syrian civil war, and in 2023 after an earthquake in Turkey and Syria that claimed more than 55,000 lives.
“Today is about unity. We know the need in Syria is overwhelming, but if we can offer even a fraction of support — whether financial or through prayer — then we’ve done our part.”
Albert Bitar, president of St. George's parish council
“Today is about unity,” Albert Bitar, president of St. George's parish council, said.
“We know the need in Syria is overwhelming, but if we can offer even a fraction of support — whether financial or through prayer — then we’ve done our part.”
Zafaran and Bitar both emphasized that continued community awareness and advocacy are just as important as monetary donations.
“Beyond donations, people can help by praying, educating themselves about what’s happening, and urging leaders to push for peace,” Bitar said.
"The Syrian people have endured 15 years of hardship, but their strength inspires us. Standing together like this is the least we can do.”