Archbishop

Joseph
Metropolitan of North America (retired)
Metropolitan Joseph in 2019
ChurchGreek Orthodox Church of Antioch
ArchdioceseAntiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
ElectedJuly 3, 2014
RetiredSeptember 17, 2022
PredecessorPhilip
SuccessorSaba
Other post(s)Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West (2004–2014)
Orders
Ordination1976 (deacon)
1980 (priest)
ConsecrationJune 30, 1991
Personal details
Born (1950-11-02) November 2, 1950
Damascus, Syria
DenominationEastern Orthodox
Alma materLebanese University
Salonika University

Archbishop Joseph (born Yusuf Al-Zehlaoui on November 2, 1950) was the Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America from July 3, 2014 to September 17, 2022. He was preceded by Metropolitan Philip Saliba. From September 12, 2004, to his election as Metropolitan in 2014, Joseph Al Zehlaoui was the bishop of the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles and the West for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. [1][2] Metropolitan Joseph was asked to resign by Patriarch John in connection with allegations of clerical misconduct, prior to a meeting with the Patriarch. It was reported that he did not receive any retirement offers, payments or any restitution for the upkeep of the rectory.[3] His resignation was effective immediately, and on September 23, 2022, Patriarch John X (Yazigi) announced his replacement with a temporary operating committee until a new Metropolitan Archbishop of America was elected. Then On Feb. 23, 2023, John X and the Holy Synod of Antioch elected Metropolitan SABA Isper to lead the Archdiocese during its extraordinary session on Feb. 23, 2023, in Balamand, Lebanon.[4]

Early years

formerly the Metropolitan and Archbishop of Bosra, Hauran and Jabal al-Arab in Syria.Joseph G. Al-Zehlaoui or Joseph Zehlaoui (in Arabic جوزيف زحلاوي) was born on November 2, 1950, in Damascus, Syria to Georgi and Mathil (Baghdan) Al-Zehlaoui. After receiving his elementary education at the St. John of Damascus and Al-Assiyeh schools in Damascus, and his secondary education at Balamand Monastery in Koura, Northern Lebanon, he studied philosophy at Lebanese University in Beirut and theology, languages and music at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. He is fluent in Arabic, English, and Greek.

He was ordained to the diaconate while a student in Salonica, in December 1976. Subsequently, he was ordained to the priesthood by Patriarch Ignatius IV, at St. Mary Cathedral in Damascus in December, 1980. As a deacon, he served parishes in Thessaloniki. As a priest, he was dean of St. Mary Cathedral of Damascus, and overseer of the Holy Cross Church and other parishes in the suburbs of Damascus. In 1983, he pastored the Antiochian Orthodox followers living in London, England, and, in 1986, the Antiochian Orthodox community living in Cyprus.

He was elected to the episcopate on May 5, 1991, and consecrated on June 30, 1991, in the Holy Cathedral of the Patriarchate in Damascus with the title Bishop of Katana, Syria.

During his clerical ministry, he served as General Supervisor and Professor of Religious Education at the Al-Assiyeh Orthodox College and supervised the Patriarchal headquarters in Damascus. Besides being the Patriarchal Assistant during the past several years, Bishop Joseph served as the secretary to the Holy Synod of Antioch, Editor-in-Chief of the Patriarchal Bulletin and participated in several theological conferences in Greece, Texas, US, and Australia.

Service in the United States

Al Zehlaoui and Mike Pompeo in July 2019

At the request of Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) of New York, Al-Zehlaoui was selected by the Holy Synod of Antioch on January 24, 1995, to be an auxiliary bishop for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

Starting September 12, 2004, he was appointed as the first bishop of the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, enthroned by Metropolitan Philip and the Local Holy Synod of the Archdiocese.

Following the death of Antiochian Orthodox Metropolitan Philip Saliba (1966–March 19, 2014), the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East convened on July 3, 2014, at the Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery in Northern Lebanon and elected Joseph at its meeting as metropolitan of North America.

Allegations of misconduct

On August 25, 2022, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America posted a statement on their website announcing that an independent legal team was investigating an accusation claiming Metropolitan Joseph had violated the canons of the church by having had a "long-time erotic affair" with a woman.[5][6] On August 28, 2022, Patriarch John X of Antioch acknowledged the accusations and assured the church that appropriate actions would be taken quickly.[7] Metropolitan Joseph issued a message to the American Archdiocese for the Ecclesiastical New Year but had made no public acknowledgement of the accusations as of September 1, 2022.[8] As a result of the controversy, on September 17, 2022, Archbishop Joseph announced his request to retire as Metropolitan,[9] while continuing to deny the allegations.

Title

Al-Zehlaoui's former title was His Eminence, the Most Reverend Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America, Primate.

References

  1. ↑ "His Eminence Joseph Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America". Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. 2014-07-03. Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  2. ↑ "juzif zahalawi mutranan lilarthudhuks ealaa 'abrashiat niwyurk wasayir 'amrika alshamalia" جوزيف زحلاوي مطرانا للارثوذكس على أبرشية نيويورك وسائر أمريكا الشمالية [Joseph Zahlawi, Archbishop of the Orthodox Archdiocese of New York and the rest of North America]. An-Nahar (in Arabic). National News Agency. 2014-07-03. Archived from the original on 2014-07-11. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  3. ↑ "Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America".
  4. ↑ "Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America".
  5. ↑ Department of Communications (2022-08-25). "A Message from the Antiochian Archdiocese". Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-08-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ↑ "Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Forced to Resign". The National Herald. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  7. ↑ John X of Antioch (2022-08-22). "Statement From Patriarch John of Antioch" (PDF). Orthodox Christian Laity. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  8. ↑ ———— (2022-09-01). "Metropolitan Joseph's Message for the Ecclesiastical New Year". Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ↑ "Retirement of Metropolitan Joseph 2022‑09‑17". St. Thomas Orthodox Church (Sioux City, Iowa). 2022-09-17. Archived from the original on 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
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