In a ever-evolving world bereft of core beliefs, 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, and Palestinians 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”.
We believe in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; one in essence and love, distinct only in persons (hypostasis), whom we worship and glorify.
We believe in the divinely revealed scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the record of God's works and understand them through the activity of the Holy Spirit Who preserves and guides the unchanging Tradition of the Church.
We believe that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic (universal), and Apostolic and preserved by the promise of Jesus Christ that "the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
Orthodoxy is the "right", "true", "straight", and "unchanging" worship and dogma of the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and that of the eternally begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ. It is "what Jesus taught, what the Apostles preached, and what the Father's kept" (St Athanuasius the Great).
The Orthodox Church traces its origin back to Jesus Christ and His Apostles. The Church came into Its fullness at Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus Christ's glorious third day resurrection from the dead.
We worship God in the Divine Liturgy partaking in the Sacraments of The Church and in our private prayers. We gather weekly to proclaim His salvation, participate in the common action of the Divine Liturgy, and commune with God in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
We serve others through fellowship, discipleship, and stewardship. In our fellowship we are united in our common faith and common endeavor to experience the Kingdom of God.
Rev. Fr. Symeon Fakhouri
قدس الأب سمعان فاخوري
Father Symeon Fakhouri graduated from St Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary and, 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.
| Divine Liturgy for Samuel the Prophet Wednesday August 19 at 6 pm - 07/31/2026 |
| Divine Liturgy for the St. Maximus the Confessor Wednesday August 12 at 6 pm - 07/31/2026 |
| Divine Liturgy for the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ Wednesday August 5 at 6 pm. - 07/31/2026 |
| General Assembly Sunday July 26, 2026 - 07/15/2026 Follow-up to the General Assembly held Sunday July 12, 2026 |
6655 Ming Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93309
Bakersfield, CA 93309