Metropolitan Saba Enthroned as Archbishop of New York & North America

OCP News Service – 14/05/2023

New York – United States: His Eminence Metropolitan Saba (Isper) was enthroned as Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York on 13th May 2023.

Metropolitan Saba received the pastoral staff from His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios (El Souri), Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek, and Dependencies (Lebanon), and former Patriarchal Vicar of the Antiochian Archdiocese. Sayidna Antonios represented His Beatitude Patriarch, John X of Antioch, presented the praxis defining the hierarchal authority of Metropolitan Saba, and read His Beatitude’s address (English). Also participating in the ceremony from the Holy Synod of Antioch were their Eminences Metropolitan Silouan of the British Isles and Ireland, Metropolitan Ghattas of Baghdad, Kuwait and Dependencies, Metropolitan Isaac of Germany and Central Europe, and the auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese: Their Graces Bishop Thomas, Bishop John, Bishop Anthony, and Bishop Nicholas.

His Eminence Metropolitan Niphon (Saikaly), the Antiochian Patriarchate’s representative in Moscow to the Patriarchate of Russia, read a letter of congratulations from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Metropolitan Saba also received congratulatory addresses from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Archdiocese of America and Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church of America, and Protopresbyter Vasilije Vranic on behalf of His Grace Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Metropolitans from Oriental Orthodox Church also took part in the enthronement service.

In the enthronement address, Metropolitan Saba said: “Today, as He has summoned me through you, and through His Beatitude, our Father the Patriarch, and the Holy Synod of Antioch, to serve this blessed Archdiocese and her people who carried on, and continue the responsibility of His royal priesthood, I promise Him that I will remain faithful to the ministry, and to what I learned in the company of the Lord during my past years of service.” Through his address, the Metropolitan also mentioned his vision regarding the Archdiocese.

The Holy Synod of Antiochian Orthodox Church, under the presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch John X on February 23, 2023, elected His Eminence Metropolitan Saba as the new Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

Following the enthronement, Sayidna Saba greeted attendees at the cathedral, giving them icon cards of his patron saint, Saba the Sanctified. He also was the guest of honor at a banquet that also raised money for earthquake relief in historic Antioch, where survivors continue to struggle after February’s devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

Source:
OCP News Service