Enthronement of head of Antiochian Archdiocese of North America takes place in New York

On May 13, 2023, in the Cathedral of the Patriarchate of Antioch, dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, located in the Brooklyn, New York City, the enthronement of the newly elected head of the Archdiocese of Antioch in the USA & Canada, Metropolitan Saba, took place.

He was elected primate of the self-governing Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America with the title “Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America” at an extraordinary meeting of the Holy Synod of Antioch, which was held on February 23, 2023 in Balamand, Lebanon.

The enthronement ceremony began with a prayer of thanksgiving, after which Metropolitan Saba was presented with the metropolitan’s staff, and the Patriarchal Vicar of the Church of Antioch, Metropolitan Anthony of Zahle and Baalbek, who temporarily headed the North American Archdiocese until the election of its primate, read to him the address of His Holiness Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East.

After that, the hierarchs of the Local Orthodox Churches, who were present at the enthronement, spoke. The long-term Representative of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Patriarch of Moscow, Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, who arrived from Moscow, read out a congratulatory message from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to the newly elected head of the Antioch Archdiocese in North America. At the solemn meal that took place after the enthronement, Metropolitan Niphon, on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, presented Metropolitan Saba with a memorable gift – a bishop’s liturgical cross and a panagia.

From the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States, the enthronement of the head of the Archdiocese of Antioch was attended by Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, Chancellor – Rector of the St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, and Priest Mark Rashkov, Vice-Chancellor – Cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral. They conveyed congratulations to Metropolitan Saba on behalf of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.