About the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Welcome to the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Our Church traces its roots in unbroken apostolic succession to first century Antioch, the city in which the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). We pray that your life will be filled with His blessings.
The Orthodox Christian Faith
The Christian Church is based in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who has come in to the world as a man for our salvation. This is the foundational belief of every true Christian. “Orthodox” means right teaching or right worship, and we understand our Orthodox Christian faith to be the full and right revelation of God’s desire for us to believe in Him, know Him, abide in Him and receive eternal life from Him. The clearest and most concise explanation of our faith can be found in the ancient Nicene Creed.
Read our Introduction to Orthodox Christianity section.
The Orthodox Christian Church
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.
The Church of Antioch
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. Many of the great saints of the Church, including St. Ignatius and St. John Chrysostom, have come from Antioch. The Patriarchate has endured despite centuries of oppression, and today shepherds over half a million Christians in Syria, Lebanon and other countries in the Middle East along with communities throughout the Americas, Australia and Europe. The Church is led by His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and the all East.
Learn more about the Church of Antioch.
Our Archdiocese
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America includes over 250 churches and missions throughout the United States and Canada. 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, and are all affiliated through the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central 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.
Read a history of our Archdiocese.
Learn about our beloved St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn.
View the Constitution of the Archdiocese.
Review a list of the Officers of the Archdiocese.
Our Metropolitan
The Antiochian Archdiocese has been led for over forty years by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip Saliba. Metropolitan Philip is widely proclaimed as a loving leader of his flock, a bold visionary and believer in the future of a strong and united Orthodox Church in North America, and a witness to the power of the Gospel to heal our modern world.
Read more about Metropolitan Philip.
Our Bishops
Our Archdiocese currently includes nine dioceses spanning the continent, overseen by eight bishops in addition to Metropolitan Philip. Each of our bishops works in concert with our Metropolitan to guide and grow our parishes.
Our Departments and Organizations
Much of the 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.
Review a full listing of our departments.
Read a full listing of our organizations.
Our Parishes
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America includes over 250 churches and missions throughout the United States and Canada.
Use our parish search engine to easily locate and contact any of our churches.