Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Encyclopedia
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (often referred to in North America simply as the Antiochian Archdiocese) is the sole jurisdiction of the Antiochian Orthodox Church
in the United States
and Canada
with exclusive jurisdiction over the Antiochian Orthodox faithful in those countries, though these faithful were originally cared for by the Russian Orthodox Church in America (indeed, the first bishop consecrated in North America, St. Raphael Hawaweeny
, was consecrated by the Russian Orthodox Church
in America to care for the Orthodox Arab faithful in the USA and Canada).
After the Bolshevik Revolution threw the Russian Orthodox Church
and its faithful abroad into chaos, the Orthodox Arab faithful in North America, simultaneously shaken by the death of their beloved bishop St. Raphael, chose to come under the direct care of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Due to internal conflicts, however, the Antiochian Orthodox faithful in North America were divided between two archdioceses, those of New York
and Toledo
.
In 1975 the two Antiochian Orthodox archdioceses were united as one Archdiocese of North America (now with its headquarters in Englewood
, New Jersey
). Since then it has experienced significant growth through ongoing evangelization and the immigration of Orthodox Arabs from the Middle East. Its current primate is Metropolitan Phillip (Saliba), who has six other diocesan bishops assisting him in caring for the nine dioceses of the growing Archdiocese, which is the third largest Orthodox Christian "jurisdiction" in North America, with an estimated 41,840 full members and 83,700 adherents.http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/tab1b.pdf
On October 9, 2003, the Holy Synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Church granted the Archdiocese's request to be granted self-rule/autonomy to allow it to better govern itself, improve and increase its outreach efforts, internally organize itself into several dioceses, and progress further on the road to the administrative unity of the Orthodox Church in the Americas.http://www.antiochian.org/news/Release20031020SelfRule.htm
The Archdiocese had formerly been a member of the National Council of Churches
(NCC), but its Archdiocesan Convention voted unanimously on July 28, 2005, to withdraw fully from that body, citing increased politicization and a generally fruitless relationship, making it the only major Orthodox jurisdiction in the US to take such a step.http://merecomments.typepad.com/merecomments/2005/07/breaking_news_o.htmlhttp://www.antiochian.org/1123162856
Many conservative former Anglicans have turned to the Archdiocese as a jurisdiction, some joining and leading Western Rite
parishes with liturgy more familiar to Western Christians. The current mission of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America is to "bring America to Orthodoxy" and has a very active Department on Mission and Evangelism chaired by Fr. Peter Gillquist who led the mass conversion of the Evangelical Orthodox Church
to Eastern Orthodoxy.
Antiochian Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, also known as the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East and the Antiochian Orthodox Church , is an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the wider communion of Orthodox Christianity...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with exclusive jurisdiction over the Antiochian Orthodox faithful in those countries, though these faithful were originally cared for by the Russian Orthodox Church in America (indeed, the first bishop consecrated in North America, St. Raphael Hawaweeny
Raphael of Brooklyn
Saint Raphael of Brooklyn , also known as Father Raphael, was born as Raphael Hawaweeny in Beirut, Lebanon, of Damascene Syrian parents...
, was consecrated by the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
in America to care for the Orthodox Arab faithful in the USA and Canada).
After the Bolshevik Revolution threw the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
and its faithful abroad into chaos, the Orthodox Arab faithful in North America, simultaneously shaken by the death of their beloved bishop St. Raphael, chose to come under the direct care of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Due to internal conflicts, however, the Antiochian Orthodox faithful in North America were divided between two archdioceses, those of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
.
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
). Since then it has experienced significant growth through ongoing evangelization and the immigration of Orthodox Arabs from the Middle East. Its current primate is Metropolitan Phillip (Saliba), who has six other diocesan bishops assisting him in caring for the nine dioceses of the growing Archdiocese, which is the third largest Orthodox Christian "jurisdiction" in North America, with an estimated 41,840 full members and 83,700 adherents.http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/tab1b.pdf
On October 9, 2003, the Holy Synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Church granted the Archdiocese's request to be granted self-rule/autonomy to allow it to better govern itself, improve and increase its outreach efforts, internally organize itself into several dioceses, and progress further on the road to the administrative unity of the Orthodox Church in the Americas.http://www.antiochian.org/news/Release20031020SelfRule.htm
The Archdiocese had formerly been a member of the National Council of Churches
National Council of Churches
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is an ecumenical partnership of 37 Christian faith groups in the United States. Its member denominations, churches, conventions, and archdioceses include Mainline Protestant, Orthodox, African American, Evangelical, and historic peace...
(NCC), but its Archdiocesan Convention voted unanimously on July 28, 2005, to withdraw fully from that body, citing increased politicization and a generally fruitless relationship, making it the only major Orthodox jurisdiction in the US to take such a step.http://merecomments.typepad.com/merecomments/2005/07/breaking_news_o.htmlhttp://www.antiochian.org/1123162856
Many conservative former Anglicans have turned to the Archdiocese as a jurisdiction, some joining and leading Western Rite
Western Rite Orthodoxy
Western Rite Orthodoxy or Western Orthodoxy or Orthodox Western Rite are terms used to describe congregations and groups which are in communion with Eastern Orthodox Churches or Oriental Orthodox Churches using traditional Western liturgies rather than adopting Eastern liturgies such as the Divine...
parishes with liturgy more familiar to Western Christians. The current mission of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America is to "bring America to Orthodoxy" and has a very active Department on Mission and Evangelism chaired by Fr. Peter Gillquist who led the mass conversion of the Evangelical Orthodox Church
Evangelical Orthodox Church
The Evangelical Orthodox Church is an Eastern Orthodox Christian movement with its origins in Evangelical Protestantism, particularly in the Campus Crusade for Christ student missionary organization, that came to embrace an Eastern tradition of Christianity....
to Eastern Orthodoxy.
Metropolitan Archbishop and Bishops
- Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)Philip (Saliba)Metropolitan Philip is the Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America, which is the leadership position for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Metropolitan Philip has held this position since 1966.- Education :Philip was education at Balamand...
of All North America, Archbishop of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of New York and Washington, D.C. (Locum Tenens of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Worcester and New England) - Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Miami and the Southeast
- Bishop Basil (Essey) of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America
- Bishop Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles and the West (Locum Tenens of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest)
- Bishop Thomas (Joseph) of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic (Locum Tenens of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest)
- Bishop Alexander (Mufarrij) of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada, and Upstate New York