The Consecrations of 3 Hierarchs, Bishops John, Anthony and Nicholas

On Sunday, December 11, 2011, three new auxiliary bishops were consecrated for the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand, in Balamand, Lebanon. Their Graces John (Abdalah), Anthony (Michaels) and Nicholas (Ozone) were consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop for Worcester and New England, Auxiliary Bishop for Toledo and the Midwest, and Auxiliary Bishop for Brooklyn and Assistant to the Metropolitan in Englewood, New Jersey, respectively.

His Beatitude Ignatius IV, Patriarch of the Great City of God, Antioch, and all the East, presided at the liturgy and was assisted by twelve hierarchs, including Metropolitans Georges of Mount of Lebanon, Saba of Horan, and Paul of Aleppo, and Bishops Joseph (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America), Moses (Patriarchate), Luke (Patriarchate), Ghattas (Abbot of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery and Dean of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology), Demetrios (Safita), Elia (Pyrgou), and Mark (Brazil). His Grace Bishop Joseph represented His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip at the consecrations and was accompanied by more than 60 clergy and laity from throughout the Archdiocese, including many Archdiocesan board members. The group was organized and led by the Vice-Chairman of the Archdiocesan Board of Trustees, Mr. Fawaz El-Khoury, with assistance from Archpriest Thomas Zain.

Elie khouri