Reverend Father Mansour Azar
In September 2013 Reverend Father Mansour was received in the Antiochian Archdioceses of North America and was appointed as Assistant Pastor for Saint George Church Phoenix, Arizona, and in July 1st 2017 he was appointed as Pastor of St. George Church in Upland, California. And Since November 1st 2024, he is the appointed Pastor for Saint George Church in San Diego.
Mr. Ayman Battikha
Elected
Year Term Starts 2024
Year Term Ends 2026
1st Term
I began attending Saint George Church in January 1997 after moving to San Diego, CA from Amman, Jordan. In 2004, I joined the parish council as a member and served as treasurer in 2005 and 2006. I rejoined the parish council in 2018 and have been serving ever since. In 2021, I had the privilege of serving as treasurer once more and became the parish council chairman in 2022, a role I continue to hold today. I am married to Rania Battikha and have three children, Adel, Lina and Alex. I enjoy serving my Church and continually seek to grow spiritually within our Orthodox faith.
Mr. Mitchell Martha
Elected
Year Term Starts 2025
Year Term Ends 2027
1st Term
Mitchell Martha is a dedicated member of Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church, currently serving as Vice Chairman of the Parish Council. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and has been an active member of the community for over 8 years, previously serving as Secretary and Vice Chairman. Mitchell is married to Catherine Martha, who serves as the Church School Director, and together they are raising two children: Michael, 15 and Amelia, 11. Their son, Michael, serves as an altar boy at the church. With a strong commitment to both his faith and community, Mitchell strives to contribute to the continued growth and success of Saint George.
Mr. Amjad Battikha
Elected
Year Term Starts 2025
Year Term Ends 2027
2nd Term
I’ve had the honor of serving on the Parish Council at St. George many times over the years and have been continuously involved since 2016. During that time, I’ve held several leadership roles, including four years as Chairman, one year as Vice Chairman, and currently serving as Treasurer for the past four years.
St. George has always been a central part of my life, and I’m blessed to share that with my family. My wife and I, along with our three daughters, are active members of the parish. My wife and all my daughters have served in officer roles within the Ladies and Teen SOYO ministries, including presidents of their respective ministries, continuing our family’s tradition of service and involvement.
Professionally, I hold a degree in Electrical Engineering and work in IT consulting. I also broker Residential Real Estate and Home Loans. In my free time, I enjoy traveling and spending quality time with my family.
It’s a true blessing to be part of the St. George community and to contribute to its growth, faith, and fellowship.
Sub-Deacon Atallah (Kevin) Tarazi
Elected
Year Term Starts 2023
Year Term Ends 2025
1st Term
Kevin Tarazi serves as the Secretary of the Parish Council. A lifelong resident of San Diego, he has been a member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church for nearly three decades. His service to the church began at the age of seven, assisting his father in the altar. In 2014, he was tonsured by Bishop Joseph and elevated to the rank of Sub-Deacon Atallah. Furthermore, he holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership.
Sub-Deacon Atallah has contributed to St. George in numerous capacities. His initial involvement with the Parish Council was as the Teen SOYO Director. He remains dedicated to mentoring new altar servers and generously volunteers for various church ministries and events
Mr. Victor Misleh
Appointed
Year Term Starts 2024
Year Term Ends 2026
1st Term
Since 1976, Victor Misleh has been a resident of San Diego. He is a dedicated member of Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church, where he has served on the Parish Council and as an Altar Server for many years. He is married to Nancy Ghanayem Misleh, and they have three sons and two daughters-in-law. For over four decades, Mr. Misleh has been self-employed in the food industry.
Mr. Ramzi Battikha
Elected
Year Term Starts 2023
Year Term Ends 2025
2nd Term
Married to Sandy Battikha and 3 Children, Andre, Alexis, and Dylan.
Remodel Contractor, owner of Step Ahead Floors, Inc.
My family has been attending St George Anriochian Orthodox church since 1984.
We love to be involved in the church spiritually and enjoy to be involved in all ministries of the church.
Served as Chairman of the board 2009 and 2022. Been serving on the parish council off and on since 2006.
Mrs. Catherine Martha
Church School Superindentant
Catherine Martha has been serving as the Church School Director at Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church since 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and has a passion for working with her teachers to educate the children of the parish about the Orthodox faith. Catherine is married to Mitchell Martha, the Vice Chairman of the Parish Council, and together they have two children: Michael, 15 and Amelia, 11. She is deeply committed to fostering the spiritual growth of the young members of the church community. With her leadership and dedication, Catherine continues to make a meaningful impact on the Church School program at Saint George.
Miss. Chantelle Tarazi
Elected
Year Term Starts 2024
Year Term Ends 2026
1st Term
I have been an active member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church for about 30 years, having been baptized and raised within the parish. I have volunteered for conventions, festivals, and church events and taught Sunday School. I am currently serving on the Parish Council, helping with various needs around and for the church. I am passionate about fostering a welcoming environment, community outreach, and spiritual growth through active involvement.
Mr. Michael E Zeiter
Men’s Fellowship President
I have had the honor of serving on the Parish council at St George over the last 8 years, since 2017. I have served in leadership roles at St George Secretary for our Parish Council, as well as currently, president of our Men’s Fellowship since 2024.
Upon moving from Northern California in 2017 to San Diego, and selecting or place of faith in St George, St George has truly been a central part of my life. For me, it has been a place of prayer, humility, grounding from our hectic world, as well as fellowship with newfound friends. Of course, as we all know God is everywhere, but my feelings as a Christian, my week ahead beyond Sunday, “is not the same” without my attendance in church. Attendance truly keeps me in the “zone” I need to be in.
Professionally, I have been a Financial Planner and Advisor for nearly 26 years, with an office in La Jolla, serving business owners, pre-retirees, and retirees.
Education, I earned a B.S. in finance and business administration, as well as attaining financial industry designations such as CLU, ChFC, and ChSNC.
Volunteering between 2002 to 2007, annually with my family, friends and colleagues, working “hand-in-hand in revamping and renovating run-down “Battered woman and children shelters” in destinations like Cancun, Costa Rica, Cabo San Lucas and Portugal, very much allowed me to understand how critical and urgent volunteering is, and how it fits in mine and my family’s life today.
I married my college sweetheart Laila “Bitar” Zeiter, and am I blessed with three wonderful boys, Michael, Chris, and John.
Again, it is truly a blessing to be part of the St George family, and to contribute to its growth, fellowship, volunteer work and St Georges standing in our San Diego community!
Mr. Paul Barghouth
Teen SOYO AdvisorMember
My name is Paul Barghouth, and I have been a member of St. George since 2021, when I moved to San Diego from the San Francisco Bay Area to pursue a career in the biotech industry.
Over the past few years, I have been actively involved in the church as the Teen SOYO Director and as a novice chanter, continuously learning Byzantine chant day by day.
Mrs. Suhair Koussa
Ladies President
Suhair Koussa
Ladies Society President – 2025
My name is Suhair Koussa. I’m married to Elias Koussa, and we have three wonderful children: Rachad, Jake, and Nadine. I have been attending Saint George Church community since 1992, after moving from Jordan to San Diego.
It has been a true joy to serve in the Ladies Society of Saint George.
I joined the ladies of Saint George team in 2022, first serving as Secretary, then Vice President, and now, I’m honored to have been elected as the ladies’ Society President for 2025.
We have an amazing team of seven dedicated Ladies Society Officers. Each one brings her heart, time, and talents to serve the church. Together, we organize events, lead charitable efforts, and support the church through our activities, donations and fundraisers.
It is truly a blessing to serve alongside such faithful women, and to be part of the Saint George Church family.
Being a part of the Saint George Church family is a gift I truly cherish.
Mr. Wael Ahwal
Appointed
Year Term Starts 2025
Year Term Ends 2027
1st Term
I have been a long-standing and devoted member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. Born and raised in Ramallah, Palestine, my journey in faith began early as an altar boy, and my commitment to the Church has remained strong ever since. Over the years, I have continued to serve in various capacities, including previously holding a seat on the parish council and I am honored to now return to that role once again.
Professionally, I am an electrical engineer and currently serve as the Director of Compliance at Advanced Oxygen Therapy.
I am blessed to share life with my wonderful wife, Anne Ahwal, and we are proud parents to our three beautiful daughters: Rania (18), Ameera (15), and Deena (11). As a family, we strive to keep God at the center of our lives and hope to pass on that same love for the Church and faith to our children.
It is a privilege to serve our parish community, and I look forward to continuing that service with dedication and joy.
Mr. Andrew Zaghloul
Elected
Year Term Starts 2023
Year Term Ends 2025
2nd Term
Andrew is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and was previously a parishioner at both St. George in Cicero and St. George in Phoenix before making San Diego his home.
He has been a member of St. George Parish for many years and is honored to serve on the Parish Council. Andrew and his wife are raising their three children in the faith and enjoy being active in the parish community.
Professionally, he brings more than 20 years of experience in IT security, compliance, and risk management, but he also finds great joy in giving back through parish service and coaching youth sports.
He serves as the chairman of the annual St. George Open Golf Tournament, a beloved parish tradition that brings the community together in fellowship and support.
Andrew is committed to strengthening parish ministries and fostering a welcoming environment where all can grow in faith together.
The Parish Council assists the Priest in all aspects of Church operations, especially in managing finances and organizing ministries. This is a sacred ministry and is open to all members of the Parish who are in good spiritual and financial standing, having been members for at least one full year. It is made up of nine members who serve three-year terms each, and three ex-officio members who are the leaders of the Ladies, Teen SOYO, and the Church school. As for the nine members, two (2) of them are appointed by the Pastor from the Voting Members, and the other seven (7) members are elected by and from the Voting Membership of the church.
The Parish Council meetings are always held in the church facility; they begin and end with a prayer and they are always conducted with the Pastor present.
The voting member is the pledged member who is committed to his pledge.
The elected members shall be elected from the nominated voting members in good standing who are twice as many as the vacancies to be filled and who have shown their willingness to serve.
The Pastor shall be the official representative of the Metropolitan Archbishop.
The Parish Council shall be the representative of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in the administration of its properties and affairs.
The constitution and the sacred Canons shall be the governing code of St. George Church.
All administrative authority is vested in the Pastor and Parish council.
All legislative authority is vested in the general meeting of the Voting Membership of St. George Church.
The parish council mindset derives from the following text from (James 1: 19-27):
“19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Doers–Not Hearers Only 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [in it,] and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion [is] useless. 27 Pure and undefined religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
The Parish Council Guidebook states:
“If you desire to serve God and your community, then leave your personal agenda on the sidewalk outside; don’t even bring it onto the Church grounds. When you come to church the only agenda should be love…. If you have disagreements settle them outside the meeting. When you advertise your disagreements, you demoralize the entire community…. Remember that the Parish Council is not a democratic body, but a symphonic orchestra. Keep Christ in the forefront of your thoughts, and you will have harmony.”
As a general guidelines to become nominated to the Parish Council:
It is an honor to serve at the Parish Council.