Montréal QC Al-Sayde Saint Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church 1992
Montréal, Québec, Al-Sayde Saint Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1992
“Al-Sayde” is roughly equivalent to “Despina” in Greek, and to “Our Lady” in English ; however, it carries also an allusion to the “Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery” in Saidnaya, Syria.
Prehistory
The prehistory of Saint Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church of Montréal, Québec, Canada, is the same as that of her mother parish, Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church, and by extension, of Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in that city.
Founding the parish
In 1992, Saint Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Montréal, Québec (known as “Al Sayde”) was officially established, in order to serve the rapidly growing Syro-Lebanese and Middle Eastern Orthodox Christian population that had outgrown the city's 2 existing Antiochian parishes, Saint George and Saint Nicholas.
In that year, Mr. Michel Elia Fawaz, leader of the choir, and Father Crow, of the Saint George parish, united 24 believers in order to form a founding committee.
Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) dispatched Bishop Antoun (Khoury) to formalise the parish, and to announce its creation at the Lebanese Canadian Syrian Association.
Metropolitan Philip assigned Priest Ghattas Hajal to serve the community initially.
After him, Metropolitan Philip assigned Archpriest Emile Hanna, and then the Archpriest George Shaheen.
First pastor
Priest Michel Fawaz
Then, in 1994, Mr. Michel Elia Fawaz was ordained first to the Holy Diaconate, and then to the Holy Priesthood, in order to provide a longer-term pastorate for the community.
Parish development
Thereafter, the parish expanded significantly, and various active groups were established in the context of Father Michel.
In February, 2017, the parish expanded its cultural footprint by launching an Arabic Language School, in order to help younger generations connect with their ancestral heritage.
Since that time, Saint Mary’s (accessible via the Al Sayde portal) operates an active community offering youth movements, a choir, and an Arabic School under the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
Saint Mary's from Grande Allée
Parish organisations
Antiochian Ladies
The Antiochian Ladies is a group of women of all ages, who undertake fundraising projects to assist the parish financially. This group is affiliated also with the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America
Arabic Language School
The Arabic language school was founded in 2017, and then developed to have 6 levels of education. The curriculum is adapted to suit all ages, although its emphasis is focussed on primary- and secondary-age students.
Parish Choir
The Parish Choir is focussed on teaching young people how to sing the hymns of the Church principally in Arabic.
Orthodox Scouts of Saint Mary
The Orthodox Scouts of Saint Mary offers the formation of the Scouting Movement in order to provide young people with practical life-skills, in the context of the Orthodox Christian way of life.
Teen SOYO
The Teen SOYO group is affiliated with the Society of Orthodox Youth Organisations in the USA, and its purpose is to integrate young people into the complete life of the Church.
Young Adult Ministry (YAM)
The Young Adult Ministry is a group of young people who meet together with the priest(s) of the parish, and they discuss spiritual and practical concerns about living and growing as Orthodox Christians in parish life, and in society. As with Teen SOYO, this group is affiliated with the Antiochian Young Adult Ministry in the USA.
Al-Sayde Saint Mary's
Particular parish information
This parish is part of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada, And Upstate New York, of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The bishop is Bishop Alexander (Mufarrij).
This parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.
The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra (6 December).
In 2026, the pastor of the parish was the Priest Elias Ferzli (Pastor and primary contact for the parish). He has served since 2019.
- Archimandrite Seraphim (Daoud) serves alongside the pastor. He has served the parish for many years in various pastoral and leadership capacities.
- Pastor Emeritus Archpriest Michel Fawaz remained a part of the parish family. A foundational figure in the Montréal Antiochian community, he served as a very long-time pastor, and he was recently awarded the King Charles III Medal for his decades of service to the church.
- Deacon Nicholas Naous assisted the liturgical and pastoral team
Address :
Al-Sayde Saint Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church
120, Boulevard Gouin
Montréal, Québec
H7N 2P6
Mailing address :
10841, Grande Allée
Montréal, Québec
H3L 2M8
Telephone : (514) 668-2734
Fax : (514) 832-0224
Directions :
The city of Montréal, Québec (and the Parish of Saint Nicholas) is accessible by various airlines through the Trudeau Montréal International Aeroport.
The city of Montréal is accessible from the east, and west by VIA Rail ; and from the south by Amtrak railways.
The city of Montréal is accessible by road from the east by Highway #20, by Highway #40 ; from the west by Highway #20, by Highway #40 ; from the north by Highway #15 (Laurentian Autoroute), by Highway #117, by Highway #25 ; from the south by Highway #15 ; by Highway #10.
By public transit, consult the Société de transport de Montréal site for routes.
The Parish of Al-Sayde Saint Mary in Montreal is situated near the north shore of the Island of Montréal, near the Rivière des Prairies.
By car, from the City of Montréal, drive along Highway #440 to the junction with Highway #15 north. Take the exit for Highway #15, and drive northwards, towards Laval. Do not cross the Rivière des Prairies. Take the exit to the right at Rue de Salaberry. Turn right (eastwards) onto Rue de Salaberry until the junction with Boulevard Gouin. Turn right onto Boulevard Gouin Ouest. Pass Boulevard Saint-Laurent. At Boulevard Grande Allée, the Temple is on the right.
Priest Elias Ferzli
Telephone : 514-809-9992
E-mail : frelias@elsayde.org
References
Parish web-site of Al-Sayde Saint Mary
Additional information :
Corey, George S, Gilquist, Peter E, Mackoul, Anne Glynn, Sam, Jean, Schneirla, Paul, eds., "The First One Hundred Years : A Centennial Anthology Celebrating Antiochian Orthodoxy in North America" (Englewood, NJ : Antakya Press, 1995). BX738.A753F57.
Orthodox World reference for Al-Sayde Saint Mary's Church
Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada and Upstate New York web-site
Orthodoxwiki article about the Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada and Upstate New York
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America web-site
Wikipedia article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Patriarchate of Antioch web-site
Orthodoxwiki article about the Orthodox Church of Antioch
Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui)
Wikipedia article about Lebanese Canadians