NEW YORK: 2 February 2023
Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York receives Metropolitan Antonios of Zahle and Baalbek

On Thursday, 2 February, 2023, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios (El Souri) of Zahle, Baalbek, and Dependencies, Patriarchal Vicar to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, at his residence in New York.

After a joint prayer in the Synodal Cathedral and the veneration of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign” and other relics, the archpastors proceeded to the First Hierarch’s quarters, where they shared a brotherly discussion on current affairs in the Holy Church of Christ, their pastoral and missionary service, youth ministry and inter-Orthodox relations in a warm, gregarious atmosphere. The hierarchs then exchanged mementos of the visit, wishing each other Divine aid.

Participating in the meeting were Archpriest Thomas Zain, Chancellor of the Archdiocese; Priest Porphirios Ibrahim, Secretary; assistants of the Patriarchal Vicariate; Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Dean of the Cathedral and Vice President of the Synodal Youth Committee; Archpriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops and Secretary of the First Hierarch; Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin) and Nicholas Ohotin, Communications Director/Jurisconsult of the Synod of Bishops.