Press Release of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, Englewood, NJ Wednesday, July 7, 1999
Patriarch of Antioch Arrives in America
| His Beatitude, IGNATIUS IV, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East arrived at New York's JFK airport on Wednesday, July 7, 1999 at 4:45pm. He was accompanied by His Eminence, Metropolitan ELIAS of Beirut, Lebanon and Dr. Youssef Hazim, the brother of the Patriarch. They were greeted at the airport by His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN, auxiliary bishop of the Archdicese and clergy and laity from throughout the Tri-State area as well as various political leaders. His Beatitude's stay in New York will include a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral of Brooklyn on Sunday, July 11 with Orthros (Matins) beginning at 9:30am. This will be followed by a banquet at the Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn, NY where more than 700 people are expected to attend. He will meet on Tuesday, July 13 with the hierarchs of the various Orthodox Churches at the Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, NJ to discuss the Church in North America and throughout the world. His Beatitude will depart for Detroit on Friday, July 16 where he will serve Liturgy that Sunday in St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Troy, MI. |
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Following his stay in Detroit, he will preside over the Antiochian Archdiocese Convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, IL from July 18-25. During the convention, the Patriarch will address the entire body of clergy and delegates and the General Assembly on Thursday morning as well as preside over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, July 25th at the Hotel. More than 12 bishops from all over North America will be serving with the Patriarch in Chicago.
After the Convention, His Beatitude will depart for pastoral visits in San Francisco (where he will preside over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 1 at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, San Francisco, CA) and Los Angeles (Where he will preside over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 8 at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA). He will also be present at the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ on August 6, at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Los Angeles after which he will meet with the clergy of Southern California. All in all, the Patriarch's archpastoral visit will last about one month. We welcome His Beatitude and exclaim, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
