A Patriarchal Vicar for Antiochian Archdiocese on the horizon

(Antiochian.org) - Your Grace, Bishop JOHN, Beloved Members of the Temporary Operating Committee, and the Members of the Board of Trustees,

We embrace you and your families with our paternal love and Patriarchal greetings, offering our warm prayers for your protection.

As you may know, the Holy Synod of Antioch will convene starting on Wednesday, October 12th, 2022, at the Patriarchal Residence, and under the protection of our Lady of Balamand. The Synod will dedicate part of its work to discuss the current developments in your God-protected Archdiocese, after the Retirement of His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph Zehlaoui.

Therefore, I, along with the Holy Synod Fathers, wish that you keep us in your prayers, as a new phase in the history of your noble Archdiocese begins, and which we hope it shall be blessed.

On this occasion, I bring your attention that as soon as the Synod concludes its meeting, we will send you an official letter about the Synodal decision related to the Archdiocese, and we will appoint a Patriarchal Vicar, in accordance with the provisions of the Antiochian Laws and Regulations. The Patriarchal Vicar will manage the affairs of the Archdiocese, in accordance with the pertinent regulations. He will especially supervise the procedures related to the nomination process.

We inform you about this, as part of the transparency in our relationship, and in order for you not to initiate any action related to the nomination process until the Vicar arrives and assumes his responsibilities in the Archdiocese.

We embrace you and your families with our paternal love, offering our warm prayers for your protection. May the Lord God strengthen you in your blessed ministry in His Church.

With our apostolic blessings.

Balamand, 5 October 2022.

+JOHN X

Patriarch of Antioch and all the East