St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church was founded by a handful of families of Middle Eastern decent who wanted to have an Orthodox Christian church for their children. Until this time, the Orthodox community attended other churches in the Fort Wayne area. Occasionally, a visiting priest from Chicago or Indianapolis would visit Fort Wayne to offer a reader service or other requested services.
In April 1978, Father Joseph Rahal of Indianapolis met with the Right Rev. Archimandrite Ellis Khoury and Dennis Bojrab during the Spring Delegates meeting of the Midwest SOYO. They determined that there was an adequate amount of Antiochian Orthodox people in the Fort Wayne area to establish a church.
In May of same year, Father Joseph Rahal met with Dr. David G. & Betty Bojrab and other individuals who were interested in creating a church in Fort Wayne. Father Joseph and Dr. Bojrab visited the pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church on Berry Street and arrangements were made to use the “children’s chapel” at this facility to hold Orthodox services. This location was chosen because it was located in the center of the city. Enthusiastic about the new church, an advertisement was put in the newspaper to welcome and reach more potential members.
At the first Liturgy, more than 100 people were in attendance. In June 1978, Father Joseph requested assistants from His Eminence Metropolitan Philip, who sent seminarian Michael Evans to assist for the next two months.
In July of 1978, the first Parish Council was appointed. Many members began taking active roles in the church. Dr. David G. Bojrab was appointed chairman of the Parish Council and Mrs. Marie Bojrab became Choir Director. During the same month, Cammille Connor established the Ladies Guild as president. In September of the same year, the Teen SOYO (Society of Orthodox Youth Organization) group was formed and the Sunday School program began meeting in the month of October. The community began to grow spiritually and institutionally.
In September 1978, the Parish Council met with His Eminence Metropolitan Philip during Father Joseph’s Elevation in Indianapolis, and the church was granted the name “St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church.” On November 2, 1979, fourteen months later, His Eminence appointed the first permanent priest to serve the spiritual needs of our community. The efforts of all the organizations of our church were realized on May 8, 1980 when we purchased the present building on Putnam Street, thus becoming an independent community. Since the beginning, our parish has set goals for our community such as:
Hosting the Midwest Basketball Tournament
February 1981
Hosting the Midwest Parish Life Conference
June 1988
Acquired 5 acres of land for future church future development
June 1995
Hosting a 20th Anniversary Celebration
October 1998
Hosting a Midwest Parish Life Conference
June
2000
Opening of new church facility on Badiac Road March
2010
Thirty years after the formation of this Orthodox Community, it become evident that our congregation has outgrown the current building structure. Church parking was inadequate, the limited Sunday School facilities hampered our Christian education program, and the actual facility failed to meet the needs of our elderly and special needs parishioners.
Our parish undertook a building project on a piece of property donated by Dr. David G and Betty Bojrab, which has become our new church home. On August 5, 2007, committees for the building project were formed. Over the weekend of October 20, 2007 the church held a groundbreaking ceremony. We were especially pleased to have many families and friends of our parishioners joining with us to support this wonderful event of St. John’s Church.
Our fellowship hall was opened in August of 2009 and we held serves in the family room for 8 months, while the sanctuary construction was completed. On the weekend of March 13 & 14, 2010, the Sunday of St. John Climacus, we held our first Divine Liturgy in the new sanctuary.St. John Chrysostom Church has been served by the following Rev. Fathers: Vladimir Christy, James Mclucky, Daniel Keller, John Morris, Joseph Cervo, Joseph Rahal, Issac Henke, George Smith, and Anthony Michaels.
May God grant this church and community many years.
Fr. Anthony Michaels, Priest & Pastor
Fr. Anthony was ordained to the deaconate on September 18th, 2004 and to the priesthood on September 19th, 2004 at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in St. Paul, Minnesota by the hand of Bishop Antoun. Fr. Anthony served at his home parish of St. Simon Church in Ironwood, Michigan for 7 months. He was then assigned to lead the faithful of St. John Chrysostom Church in Fort Wayne, where he serves today.
Fr. Anthony was born Richard Anthony (Rick) Michaels on the feast day of St. Anthony the Great (January 17th) to parents Anthony and Gertrude Michaels of Ironwood, Michigan. Rick was raised with sister, Joanna, and brother, Craig. As a teenager, he attended Ironwood High School were he led the varsity football team as starting quarterback. (He even played against and beat Steve Mariuchi - future San Fransisco 49ers' and Detroit Lions' head coach.)
Fr. Anthony attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor from 1974-78 and received his bachelor's degree with a double major in History & English, graduating Magna Cum Laude. From 1979-82, Fr. Anthony attended St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY, where he graduated first in his class.
Prior to being ordained, Fr. Anthony spent 5 summers at the Antiochian Village, served as the youth director at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for 2 years, followed by St. George in Akron, Ohio for 2 years.
Fr. Anthony also spent 2 years based in Nashville, TN, recording with Fr. Michael (Alan) Shanbour and Fr. Patrick Kinder as the musical group Kerygma. The three priests started writing music with Orthodox themes and singing and touring while in seminary. Through Kerygma concerts, lectures and seminars, Fr. Anthony has travelled to churches all over the archdiocese, inspiring the youth and strengthening the Orthodox communities.
Fr. George Smith, Attached Priest
Fr. George was Chrismated into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church on October 31st, 1993 at St. George Cathedral in Toledo, OH by Bishop Antoun.
Fr. George was ordained to Sub-deaconate by the hand of Bishop Basil. He was ordained to the Diaconate on July 5th, 1998 at St. George Cathedral in Toledo and assigned to St. Mary Orthodox Church in Goshen, IN. On July 2nd, 2000, Fr. George was ordained to the Priesthood at the Midwest Parish Life Conference by the hand of Bishop Demetri.
Fr. George was assigned as a supply priest for the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest and has served in many Orthodox Churches in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Windsor, Canada.
In 2006, Fr. George was assigned to assist Fr. Antony Bell at St. Mary Church in Topeka, IN. In February 2007, Fr. George was assigned as pastor of St. Mary Church. Then in August 2008, he retired from his pastor position and accepted attachment to St. John Chrysostom Church, and once again serves as a supply priest for the Diocese.
Fr. George received his Orthodox theological training by completing the St. Stephen’s Course of Study through the Antiochian House of Studies. The St. Stephen’s Course is a three-year course with directed readings in scripture, doctrine, history, liturgy, and practical theology, plus three one-week on-site sessions at the Antiochian Village.
Fr. George was born William M. Smith on November 6, 1931 to the parents of Frank & Mildred Smith.
Prior to being received into the Antiochian Orthodox Church, Fr. George served the Fort Wayne community as a 23-year veteran of the Fort Wayne Police Department, attaining the rank of Assistant Chief of Police prior to retirement. For the next 16 ½ years, he served the department of Security & Safety at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Fort Wayne, retiring in December 1998.