View source for Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

{{short description|Jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch in the United States and Canada}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
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| name                = Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America 
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| leader_name1        = [[Saba (Esber)|Metropolitan Saba]]
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| language            = [[English language|English]], [[Levantine Arabic|Arabic]], [[Koine Greek|Greek]],  [[French language|French]]
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| headquarters        = {{unbulleted list|Archdiocesan: 358 Mountain Road, [[Englewood, New Jersey]]|Patriarchal: [[Damascus|Damascus, Syria]]}}
| territory           = [[United States]] and [[Canada]]
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| founder             = [[Raphael of Brooklyn]]
| founded_date        = {{unbulleted list|{{start date|1895}} (Syro-Levantine Antiochian Mission)|{{start date|1924}} (Archdiocese)}}
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| members             = 74,600 (United States) <ref name="Krindatch">{{Cite book |title=Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Churches |publisher=Holy Cross Orthodox Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-935317-23-4 |editor-last=Krindatch |editor-first=Alexei D. |publication-place=[[Brookline, Massachusetts]] |language=en |lccn=2011585731 |oclc=772672545}}</ref>{{rp|44}}
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}}{{Infobox diocese
| titleoverride     = Metropolitan of New York and All
| archbishopric     = North America
| border            = Eastern Orthodox
| image             = 
| incumbent         = [[Saba (Esber)|Metropolitan Saba]]
| incumbent_note    = since {{start date|2023|2|23}}
| style             = 
<!---- Locations ---->
| country           = [[United States of America]]
| residence         = [[Englewood, New Jersey]]
<!---- Information ---->
| cathedral         = [[St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral (Brooklyn)]]
<!---- Website ---->
}}
{{Orthodoxyinamerica}}
The '''Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America''' ('''AOCANA'''), often referred to in [[North America]] as simply the '''Antiochian Archdiocese''', is the jurisdiction of the [[Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch]] in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. Originally under the care of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], the Syro-Levantine [[Greek Orthodox|Eastern Orthodox Christian]] immigrants to the United States and Canada were granted their own jurisdiction under the Church of Antioch in the wake of the [[Bolshevik Revolution]]. Internal conflicts divided the Antiochian Orthodox faithful into two parallel [[archdiocese]]s{{thinsp|{{mdash}}}}those of [[New York, New York|New York]] and [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]]{{thinsp|{{mdash}}}}until 1975, when [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] [[Philip (Saliba)]] became the sole [[archbishop]] of the reunited Antiochian Archdiocese. The Holy Synod of Antioch granted the Archdiocese semi-autonomous status in 2003, and by 2014 it had grown to over 275 [[parish church]]es.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parish Directory {{!}} Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese |url=http://ww1.antiochian.org/parishes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214122420/http://ww1.antiochian.org/parishes |archive-date=2021-12-14 |access-date=2021-10-23 |publisher=Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Parishes |url=https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/parishes?searchType=jurisdiction&jur=ant |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625213315/http://www.assemblyofbishops.org:80/directories/parishes?searchType=jurisdiction&jur=ant |archive-date=2012-06-25 |access-date=2021-10-23 |publisher=[[Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2025, the Archdiocese claimed to have between 84,000 and 380,000 baptized members, "depending on the report and the counting method used."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archdiocese of North America |url=https://www.antiochianladiocese.org/archdiocese.html |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=The Antiochian Diocese of Los Angeles and the West}}</ref> In 2015, the Archdiocese reported having around 100,000 baptized members.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rhodes |first=Ron |title=The complete guide to Christian denominations: understanding the history, beliefs, and differences |publisher=Harvest House Publishers |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-7369-5291-0 |edition=Updated & expanded |location=Eugene, Or |publication-date=2015 |pages=324}}</ref>

It is one of two Orthodox Christian jurisdictions in North America to currently practice the liturgical [[Western Rite]] as well as the [[Byzantine Rite]], along with the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia|Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]].

==History==
The Antiochian Orthodox followers were originally cared for by the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] in America and the first bishop consecrated in North America, [[Raphael of Brooklyn]], was consecrated by the Russian Orthodox Church in America in 1904 to care for the Syro-Levantine [[Greek Orthodox]] Christian [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] immigrants to the United States and Canada, who had come chiefly from the [[vilayet]]s of [[Adana]], [[Aleppo]], [[Damascus]], and [[Beirut]] (the birthplace of the community's founder, Raphael of Brooklyn).{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

After the Bolshevik Revolution threw the Russian Orthodox Church and its faithful abroad into chaos, the Syro-Levantine [[Greek Orthodox]] Christian faithful in North America, simultaneously shaken by the death of their beloved bishop, Raphael, chose to come under the direct care of the Damascus-based [[Patriarchate of Antioch]]. Due to internal conflicts, however, the Antiochian Orthodox faithful in North America became divided between two archdioceses, those of [[New York City]] and [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]].{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In 1975, the two Antiochian Orthodox archdioceses were united as one Archdiocese of North America (now with its headquarters in [[Englewood, New Jersey|Englewood]], [[New Jersey]]). Since then, it has experienced significant growth through ongoing evangelization of North Americans and the immigration of Orthodox Christian Arabs from the Middle East. Its leader from 1966 until 2014 was Metropolitan [[Philip Saliba]]. Six other diocesan bishops assisted the metropolitan in caring for the archdiocese, which is the third largest Orthodox Christian jurisdiction in North America, with 74,600 adherents in the United States, 27,300 of whom are regular church attendees. As of 2011, it also has 249 parishes in the United States with two monastic communities.{{r|Krindatch}}

Metropolitan Philip died in 2014 and was succeeded by Metropolitan [[Joseph Al-Zehlaoui]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archbishop Joseph Elected Metropolitan of All North America |url=http://ww1.antiochian.org/archbishop-joseph-elected-metropolitan-all-north-america |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808174817/http://ww1.antiochian.org/archbishop-joseph-elected-metropolitan-all-north-america |archive-date=2020-08-08 |access-date=2022-03-07 |publisher=Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America |language=en}}</ref> Metropolitan Joseph retired in 2022 following allegations of sexual misconduct.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Forced to Resign|url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/metropolitan-joseph-of-the-antiochian-orthodox-archdiocese-forced-to-resign/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |publisher=The National Herald |language=en}}</ref>

The archdiocese is a participating member of the [[Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America]]. Metropolitan Joseph served as the body's first vice chairman.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leadership |url=https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/about/leadership |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026182746/https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/about/leadership |archive-date=2021-10-26 |access-date=2021-11-04 |publisher=[[Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Structure==
The archdiocese is divided in eight territorial dioceses and one vicariate. Some of the territorial dioceses extend into Canada.

* Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic (chancery in [[Charleston, West Virginia]])
* Los Angeles and the West (chancery in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]])
* Miami and the Southeast (also referred to as DOMSE) (chancery in [[Coral Gables, Florida]])
* New York and Washington, D.C. (chancery in [[Englewood, New Jersey]])
* Ottawa, Eastern Canada and Upstate New York (chancery in [[Montreal]], [[Canada]])
* Toledo and the Midwest (chancery in [[Toledo, Ohio]])
* Wichita and Mid-America (chancery in [[Wichita, Kansas]])
* Worcester and New England (chancery in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]]).{{r|Krindatch}}

Alongside the eight [[Byzantine Rite]] territorial dioceses exists the [[Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate|Western Rite Vicariate]], a non-territorial [[vicar]]iate created from remnants of the [[Society of St. Basil|Society of Saint Basil]] in 1961, three years after the [[Western Rite]] was approved for use by the archdiocese in 1958. It oversees all Antiochian parishes serving the [[Roman Rite|Roman]] or [[Book of Common Prayer|Anglican]] uses of the Western Rite, as opposed to the Byzantine Rite used by the majority of the archdiocese.

==Evangelism==

Many conservative former [[Anglican]]s have turned to the archdiocese as a jurisdiction, some joining and leading [[Western Rite Orthodoxy|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 Orthodoxy to America". Its Department of Missions and Evangelism was chaired by [[Peter Gillquist]] who led the mass conversion of the [[Evangelical Orthodox Church]] to Eastern Orthodoxy. Gillquist died in {{death date text|July 2012}}. The current chairman is John Finley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Leadership Appointed for Department of Missions and Evangelism {{!}} Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese |url=http://ww1.antiochian.org/new-leadership-appointed-department-missions-and-evangelism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216211835/http://ww1.antiochian.org/new-leadership-appointed-department-missions-and-evangelism |archive-date=2022-02-16 |access-date=2022-02-16 |publisher=Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America |language=en}}</ref>

The archdiocese also includes [[Ancient Faith Ministries]] among its departments, with its well-known [[Ancient Faith Radio]] division, an Internet-based radio station with content themed around Orthodox Christianity, including both streaming stations and more than 100 podcasts.

As a result of its evangelism and missionary work, the Antiochian Archdiocese saw significant growth between the mid-1960s and {{date|2012}}. The archdiocese had only 65 parishes across the United States in the mid-1960s and, by {{date|2011}}, this number had increased to 249 parishes.{{r|Krindatch|p=45}}

===Relations with other Christian bodies===
The archdiocese was a member of the [[National Council of Churches]] (NCC) for decades, but its archdiocesan convention voted unanimously on 28 July 2005 to withdraw fully from that body.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-07-28 |title=Breaking News: Orthodox Leave NCC |url=http://merecomments.typepad.com/merecomments/2005/07/breaking_news_o.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417020731/https://merecomments.typepad.com/merecomments/2005/07/breaking_news_o.html |archive-date=2021-04-17 |access-date=2022-02-16 |publisher=[[Touchstone (magazine)|Touchstone]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=47th Convention Highlights |url=http://ww1.antiochian.org/1123162856 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307074820/http://ww1.antiochian.org/1123162856 |archive-date=2022-03-07 |access-date=2022-03-07 |publisher=Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America |language=en}}</ref>

==Episcopacy and Diocesan Oversight==
[[File:Nick Antiochian Orth Cath State St jeh.JPG|thumb|upright|[[St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, New York|St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Brooklyn]]]]
[[File:Bishop Anthony (6984754275).jpg|thumb|right|Bishop Anthony (with crown)]]

While American converts play a substantial role in the life of the archdiocese, being well represented among both clergy and laity, all current bishops of the Antiochian Archdiocese are of [[Levant]]ine descent, though that hasn't always been the case.

In addition to the bishops, three of the dioceses are currently overseen by [[archimandrite|archimandrites]] on behalf of Met Saba, until the election of more bishops{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

===Metropolitan archbishop===
* [[Saba (Esber)|Saba Esper]], Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

===Auxiliary bishops and archimandrites===
* Archimandrite Calinic Berger, Wichita Chancery
* Bishop Thomas Joseph, Charleston Chancery
* Bishop Alexander Mufarrij, Ottawa Chancery
* Bishop John Abdallah, Worcester Chancery
* Archimandrite Jeremy Davis, Toledo Chancery
* Bishop Nicholas Ozone, Miami Chancery
* Bishop Anthony Michaels, Los Angeles Chancery
* Archimandrite Paul Matar, New York Chancery

===Former metropolitan archbishops===

====Archdiocese of New York====
* Victor Abo-Assaley, 1924{{ndash}}1935
* Anthony Bashir, 1936{{ndash}}1966
* [[Philip Saliba]], 1966{{ndash}}2014

====Archdiocese of Toledo====
* Samuel David, 1936{{ndash}}1958
* Michael Shaheen, 1958{{ndash}}1975

====Archdiocese of New York and All North America====
* [[Philip Saliba]], 1975{{ndash}}2014
* [[Joseph Al-Zehlaoui]], 2014{{ndash}} 2022
* [[Saba Esber]], since 2023

==See also==
* [[Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America]]
* [[Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Canada]]
* [[Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America]]
* [[Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch]]
* [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]]
* [[Antiochian Greek Christians]]

==Notes==

:1.{{Note|1}}The number of adherents given in the "Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Churches" is defined as "individual full members" with the addition of their children. It also includes an estimate of how many are not members but regularly participate in parish life. Regular attendees includes only those who regularly attend church and regularly participate in church life.{{r|Krindatch|p=x}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://antiochian.org}}

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[[Category:Antiochian Orthodox Church in the United States]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1924]]
[[Category:Dioceses established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodox dioceses in Canada]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodox dioceses in the United States]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodox organizations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch]]
[[Category:Christian denominations founded in the United States]]