Source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East warmly welcomed a delegation from the Antiochian Archdiocese at the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology in Balamand, Lebanon from Nov. 9-10, 2022.
His Beatitude gave the Archdiocese the blessing to begin the process of nominations for a new Metropolitan according to the Antiochian constitution and the Archdiocese’s constitution, under the supervision of His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios, Patriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese.
His Beatitude offered the delegates words of hope and encouragement for the future. He asked them to convey to all the clergy and laity of the God-protected Archdiocese these messages:
- Remember the inheritance of the Orthodox faith from our physical and spiritual ancestors;
- Preserve and enhance the Antiochian spirit of evangelism, growth, and education, as given to us by the apostles;
- Produce a visionary plan for spiritual, administrative and pastoral growth.
Later this month, Metropolitan Antonios will arrive at the Archdiocesan Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey. He is making plans to visit several parishes and meet with clergy and laity during his time in North America. The Temporary Operating Committee will assist His Eminence with the administration of the Archdiocese until the election of the new Metropolitan.
The North American delegation consisted of Their Graces, Bishops: Thomas Joseph, John Abdalah, and Nicolas Ozone, together with the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr. Fawaz El Khoury, the Chief Financial Officer of the Archdiocese Mr. Salim Abboud, and the Vicar General of the Archdiocese Archpriest Thomas Zain.
The meetings were also attended by Their Eminences, Metropolitans: Saba Isber (Hauran, Syria), Silouan Moussi (Mount Lebanon), and Antonios El-Soury (Zahlé, Lebanon) the Patriarchal Vicar.
The delegates thank His Beatitude and Their Eminences for the cordial and productive dialogue.
3 Comments
Another foreign bishop forced down the throats of Antiochian Americans. When are you people going to learn? Bishop John Abdalah, an American, would have been a perfect choice to lead!
Dear Nikolai,
I’m going to try to make this my last post (don’t want to bore everyone to death), but I think Mr. Karcazes asked you some very important questions. I know you are not a man who ducks the hard questions. Will you please respond to his post? I would be interested in your proposals. Thanking you in advance for your kind response- Peter Ray Millman
Peter: Have no idea of what you are referring – be clear.
Again, foreign bishops have no REAL canonical authority in America. For ANY American Orthodox to accept & allow foreign bishops to take control of their churches and siphon money from American churches is nothing more than colonialism.