Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America is a self-ruling archdiocese of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, with its headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey, and is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions in North America, with over 250 parishes and monasteries. The archdiocese is led by Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) and is a member of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, along with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Orthodox Church in America, and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. The archdiocese has close ties with the Syriac Orthodox Church, Melkite Greek Catholic Church, and the Maronite Church, and participates in various ecumenical dialogues, including the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Bilateral Dialogue and the International Orthodox Theological Association.

● History

The history of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America dates back to the early 20th century, when Syrian Orthodox and Lebanese Orthodox immigrants arrived in the United States and Canada, and were received by the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America, led by Tikhon of Moscow. In 1924, the Patriarch of Antioch, Gregory IV of Antioch, appointed Aftimios Ofiesh as the bishop of the Syrian Orthodox in America, who later became the leader of the American Orthodox Catholic Church. In the 1950s and 1960s, the archdiocese experienced significant growth, with the arrival of Archbishop Anthony (Bashir) and the establishment of the Antiochian Village, a conference and retreat center in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. The archdiocese has also been involved in various ecumenical efforts, including the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation and the National Council of Churches, and has close ties with the Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

● Organization

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America is a self-ruling archdiocese, with its own holy synod, led by Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui), who is also the primate of the archdiocese. The archdiocese is divided into several dioceses, each led by a bishop, including the Diocese of New York and Washington, D.C., the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, and the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast. The archdiocese also has several deaneries, which are groupings of parishes, and is a member of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, along with the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. The archdiocese has close ties with the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, the Church of Cyprus, and the Church of Greece, and participates in various international Orthodox organizations, including the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches.

● Dioceses

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America is divided into several dioceses, each led by a bishop, including the Diocese of New York and Washington, D.C., led by Bishop Nicholas (Ozone), the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, led by Bishop Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui), and the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast, led by Bishop Antoun (Khouri). The archdiocese also has several vicariates, which are groupings of parishes, including the Vicariate of Western Rite Parishes, led by Bishop John (Abdalah), and the Vicariate of the Diocese of Worcester and New England, led by Bishop Gregory (John Abdalah). The dioceses and vicariates of the archdiocese are involved in various ministries, including the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Department of Missions and Evangelism, and the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, and have close ties with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, the International Orthodox Christian Charities, and the Orthodox Christian Network.

● Clergy

The clergy of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America include bishops, priests, and deacons, who are ordained by the holy synod of the archdiocese. The archdiocese has a number of notable clergy, including Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui), Bishop Nicholas (Ozone), and Bishop Antoun (Khouri), who have been involved in various ecumenical efforts, including the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Bilateral Dialogue and the International Orthodox Theological Association. The archdiocese also has a number of clergy who are involved in various ministries, including the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Department of Missions and Evangelism, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Department of Youth Ministry, and the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, and have close ties with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, the International Orthodox Christian Charities, and the Orthodox Christian Network. The clergy of the archdiocese are trained at various seminaries, including the St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, the St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

● Worship_and_Practices

The worship and practices of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America are based on the Byzantine Rite, and include the Divine Liturgy, Vespers, and Matins. The archdiocese also has a number of unique practices, including the use of the Western Rite, which is used by some parishes, and the celebration of the Feast of St. Raphael of Brooklyn, who is the patron saint of the archdiocese. The archdiocese is also involved in various ecumenical efforts, including the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Bilateral Dialogue and the International Orthodox Theological Association, and has close ties with the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Lutheran World Federation. The archdiocese has a number of notable monasteries, including the Antiochian Village, which is a conference and retreat center in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and the Monastery of the Holy Cross, which is a monastery for women in Waymart, Pennsylvania.

● Ecumenical_Relations

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America is involved in various ecumenical efforts, including the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Bilateral Dialogue and the International Orthodox Theological Association. The archdiocese has close ties with the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and the Lutheran World Federation, and participates in various international Orthodox organizations, including the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches. The archdiocese is also a member of the National Council of Churches, and has close ties with the Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the Armenian Apostolic Church. The archdiocese has a number of notable ecumenical partnerships, including the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and the Episcopal Church in the USA, and the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and is involved in various ecumenical initiatives, including the Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue and the International Orthodox-Catholic Forum.