Community

Welcome to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, an Archdiocese of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. We trace our roots to first century Antioch, the city in which the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians. Sometimes called the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church is the first Christian Church, the Church founded by the Lord Jesus Christ and described in the pages of the New Testament. Her history can be traced in unbroken continuity all the way back to Christ and His Twelve Apostles. For twenty centuries, she has continued in her undiminished and unaltered faith and practice. Today her apostolic doctrine, worship and structure remain intact. The Orthodox Church maintains that the Church is the living Body of Jesus Christ. Read our Discover Orthodox Christianity section, and the Nicene Creed, to learn more about our faith.
The Antiochian Church in North America

The Church of Antioch was established by the Apostles Paul and Barnabas in 42 A.D., with St. Peter serving for the next eight years as its first prelate. The Church of Antioch is one of the five ancient Patriarchates of the Christian Church, along with Alexandria, Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Rome. We are in full communion with our brothers and sisters in various other Orthodox Christian jurisdictions, such as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Orthodox Church in America. Together we work to nurture the Orthodox Christians of this land—whether immigrants or native-born, cradle Orthodox, or converts—and to bring America to the ancient Orthodox Christian Faith.

A History of our Archdiocese
More on the Patriarchate of Antioch
St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn
Constitution of the Archdiocese
List of the Officers of the Archdiocese
His Beatitude John X
Metropolitan Joseph

Hierarchs

Our Archdiocese currently includes nine dioceses spanning the continent, overseen by eight bishops in addition to Metropolitan Joseph. Each of our bishops works in concert with our Metropolitan to guide and grow our parishes.

The Antiochian Archdiocese was led for over forty years by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip Saliba, prior to his falling asleep in Christ on March 19, 2014. After his repose, His Beatitude John X appointed Metropolitan Silouan of Buenos Aires and all Argentina as the Patriarchal Vicar, and Archbishop Joseph of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West as the Locum Tenens of the Archdiocese. The Holy Synod of Antioch, meeting in Balamand, Lebanon on Thursday, July 3, 2014, elected Archbishop Joseph to be Metropolitan of all North America.

Learn more about our bishops.

Departments and Organizations

Much work of our Archdiocese is accomplished by dedicated ministry staff and volunteers laboring in a wide range of departments and organizations seeing to the needs of our communities. From sacred music to Christian education, from care for aging priests to missionary work, and beyond, our Archdiocese benefits from the work of those who choose to serve.

See descriptions and links for all our departments and organizations.

Parishes

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America includes over 275 cathedrals, churches, and missions throughout the United States and Canada.

Use our parish search engine to easily locate and contact any of our churches.