For context see the Metropolitan Joseph: The Scandal section in our Archives 2020-22 linked at the top of this page. Once again, Orthodoxy in Dialogue calls upon the Holy Synod of Antioch to depose the Metropolitan from holy orders at its meeting next week. No one wants to kiss his hand, hear him addressed as Your Eminence, or see him in vestments ever again. This is the same discipline that he would have meted out swiftly to any priest or deacon in the same circumstances—without the benefit of a retirement package.

Disgraced Former Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

The email sent by Joseph Al-Zehlaoui’s repentant former lover to Patriarch John of Antioch and the bishops, vicar general, and trustees of the Antiochian Archdiocese includes the following voicemail as an attachment. According to the email, then-Metropolitan Joseph placed this telephone call in the spring of 2022, a full five years after the author had terminated the relationship.  Those who know Al-Zehlaoui well will recognize his voice for themselves.

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For context see the Metropolitan Joseph: The Scandal section in our Archives 2020-22 linked at the top of this page.

On October 3, Orthodoxy in Dialogue reported on Father Michael Habib  of Twin Falls ID as the most likely face behind “Son of Antioch” at sonofantioch2022@gmail.com, creator of the two short-lived petitions and mass-emailings to overturn the resignation of the disgraced former metropolitan of the Antiochian Archdiocese. One of our tech-savvy readers obtained the above screenshot by logging into the Gmail account and selecting Recover Password. This definitively establishes  Father Habib’s identity via the connection between his email and YouTube accounts.

Another source informs us that Habib conscripted his own mother to conduct some of the mass-emailing. We have seen her email and know her name, but choose not to divulger her identity unless and until it becomes necessary to do so.

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For context see the Metropolitan Joseph: The Scandal section in our Archives 2020-22 linked at the top of this page. With filial love, respect, and trust we urge Patriarch John to order the immediate removal of the former metropolitan’s image and name from church websites, institutions, letterhead, and liturgical commemoration, and the Holy Synod to depose said individual from holy orders as he himself would have surely done with any simple priest or deacon in similar circumstances. 

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For context see the Metropolitan Joseph: The Scandal section in our Archives 2020-22 linked at the top of this page.

Antiochian Village. Approach to the chapel. October 4, 2022.

Today’s brief reflection comes from a priest on retreat at Antiochian Village this week. It follows upon Orthodoxy in Dialogue’s several continued objections to ubiquitous representations of the disgraced former metropolitan of the Antiochian Archdiocese on official church websites and letterhead and in liturgical commemorations. Removing these should be a swift, simple matter for which further delay is inexcusable and a source of confusion to the faithful. (These comments are not meant to reflect poorly on the Village’s employees, but on their overlords in Englewood for their failure to order this and similar images removed from church institutions.)

Our correspondent-priest writes:

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