In a world characterized by ever increasing malleability and capriciousness, and bereft of immutable convictions, the Patriarchate of Antioch and its Archdiocese in North America embodies and engenders the continuity of the Apostolic Tradition, the preservation of the Historical Church, It’s Teachings, Theology, Dogma, and Precepts, and the Immutability of the ever Loving and Unchanging Triune God.

Virgin Mary Life Giving Spring Antiochian Orthodox Church is a church parish within the Historical, Canonical, and Apostolic Patriarchate of Antioch and its Metropolis, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Shepherded by our Primate, His Eminence Metropolitan SABA, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of North America, the Antiochian Archdiocese endeavors to serve all who desire to know and love The Lord Jesus Christ and to realize the salvation of their souls.

Whilst the parish of Virgin Mary was established by an emblematic group of individuals that reflect the pluralistic nature of the larger Middle East including Syrians, Jordanians, Lebanese, Palestinians, and Egyptians, it is a parish that serves and nurtures all faithful Orthodox Christians. All who love The Lord Jesus Christ and wish to demonstrate their faith and fidelity to The Holy Orthodox Church and Its teachings are welcome. Indeed, the diverse faithful of Virgin Mary Life Giving Spring call this humble and beautiful church their own. We invite all to come and see that The Lord is Good, that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever”, and that the “faith was once delivered unto the saints”.

TYPICAL SERVICE SCHEDULE:

Sunday- Orthros at 10:00 am followed by Divine Liturgy at 11:00 am
FOLLOWED BY SUNDAY SCHOOL AND FELLOWSHIP IN THE HALL

Wednesday-Vespers at 6:30 pm followed by Spiritual Presentation

Saturday- Great Vespers at 6:30 pm

OUR CHURCH  AND HALL ADDRESS IS 6655 MING AVE BAKERSFIELD, CA 93309 LOCATED IN LAURELGLEN PLAZA CROSS STREETS ARE MING AND ASHE

Father Symeon Fakhouri, born Yazen Ziad Fakhouri, was born in 1983 in Suburban Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in May, 2019. Father Symeon is the son of Ziad (Ret. Engineer) and Maha Fakhouri (Ret. Teacher) and the brother of Tarek Fakhouri (Wife Lubna Abbassi Fakhouri and children Isabella (6), Anastasia (4), Sophia (2)), Luma Sayegh (Husband Edward and children Johnathan (16), Aiden (14), and Nicholas (12)), and Dealla Saba (Husband Issa and child George (Newborn). Father Symeon has spent time at various parishes throughout the Antiochian Archdiocese, a year at the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand, Lebanon and, as Youth Director of St. George in Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, Father Symeon has spent a year at the Antiochian Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey under the tutelage and Omophorion of His Eminence Metropolitan SABA. Father Symeon Fakhouri was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Grace Bishop ANTHONY on the feast day of The Conception of St. Anna with the Theotokos, December 9, 2023 and to the Holy Priesthood by His Grace Bishop ANTHONY on The Feast of All Saints, June 15, 2025. Father Symeon has been attached to St. George Upland, CA for the last year training under the tutelage and spiritual guidance of V. Rev. Fr. Hanania Hakimeh

 

 

 

Upcoming events 

It's Home Blessing Season.

Call the church office (661) 374-3307 to schedule your Home Blessing with Fr. Symeon.

As Christ came to bless and sanctify the waters of the Jordan River and, through them, all of
creation, so in this feast will we be blessed by the water that we take from the church to our
homes. Now is the time to prepare ourselves and make ready our homes to welcome Christ as
an honored guest who will bless every room for our salvation!

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