Father Mark Melone, pastor of St. George Melkite-Greek Catholic Church in Sacramento, has been ordained to archimandrite, a title in the Byzantine Church designating the honor as “head of the flock.”

The Most Rev. Cyril Bustros, Archbishop of the Eparchy of Newton for Melkite-Greek Catholics in the United States, ordained Father Melone during Divine Liturgy on Feb. 11 at St. George Church.

During the ordination, after praying that Father Melone be made “worthy to stand at the head of priests” and through deeds “offer a good example,” Archbishop Bustros bestowed a jeweled pectoral cross and monastic head covering on the newly-ordained archimandrite.

St. George parishioner Cary O’Keeffe said Father Melone’s ministry has already done much “to build the parish’s spiritual life and the spiritual development of his parishioners.”

“There is a richness he brings as a homilist, liturgist and spiritual father in developing the life of the parish,” said O’Keeffe, who appreciates Father Melone’s dedication sharing the Melkite tradition, with its Catholic origin rooted in the Middle Eastern cities of Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria.

St. George Parish is made up largely of people of Middle Eastern descent, including immigrants from Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and Bethlehem in the Holy Land.

Father Melone said one of the biggest challenges for Eastern Catholic churches is making people aware there are Catholics who follow different traditions.

“These are Christians who trace their faith genealogy to the apostles,” said Father Melone. “That’s a living tradition.”

Father Melone grew up attending Mass at St. Francis Xavier Parish in East Providence, R.I., and was educated by the Sisters of St. Dorothy at St. Francis School.

He attended seminary at Our Lady of Providence in Warwick, R.I., and completed graduate work in theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

In 1978, Father Melone was ordained to the priesthood at St. Basil the Great Church in Central Falls, R.I.

During his 29 years of service in the Eparchy of Newton, Father Melone has served 16 years in the Sacramento Diocese at St. George Parish.

He has also served as director of the National Association of Melkite Youth, and for several terms as president of the Eastern Catholic Pastoral Association of Northern California.

A gifted iconographer who apprenticed in high school with famed liturgical artist Ade Bethune, Father Melone views icons’ “simplicity and beauty” as mirroring images that grow out of Scripture, “part of the church’s prayer.”

The Melkite-Greek pastor’s icons are not only displayed at St. George Church but in churches throughout the United States and in several Eastern Christian publications.

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