The following observations were sent to Orthodoxy in Dialogue this morning by a highly placed layperson with contacts in parishes throughout the Antiochian Archdiocese. For context see the Metropolitan Joseph: The Scandal section in our Archives 2020-22 section linked at the top of this page.

Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui)

I’ve been speaking to lots of people about the scandal. The general story of the average parishioner goes like this: When Orthodoxy in Dialogue published the email, everyone was shocked and most would call their priest. Most priests, certainly not all, would say that Orthodoxy in Dialogue is run by a disgruntled LGBTQI+ member.

When you published the story of the homes Metropolitan Joseph owns, even the priests were stunned. That won credibility. Read More

The Patriarchate of Antioch posted the following message from Patriarch John to its Facebook page around 8:00 p.m. Syrian time today, August 29. For context see the Metropolitan Joseph: The Scandal section in our Archives 2020-22 linked at the top of this page. Orthodoxy in Dialogue’s sources note astutely that the Patriarch bypasses Metropolitan Joseph in communicating directly with the people. He voices neither support for the Metropolitan, nor an exhortation to withhold judgment in the matter, nor a rebuke to the global outrage ignited by our reporting on the scandal. Together with the Arabic version, the Patriarch’s message is the pinned post on the Patriarchate’s Facebook page. [ADDENDUM 8/31/22: The post has been unpinned. Scroll down to 8/29 to find it.] Our insider sources at Englewood tell us that Metropolitan Joseph refused to obey the Patriarch’s instructions to post the message to the Archdiocesan website until Orthodoxy in Dialogue published it. Englewood assumed no one would see it on the Patriarchate’s Facebook page.

We encourage our readers around the world to be patient with the Patriarchate over the coming few days. Decisive action seems inevitable and imminent. At the same time, we encourage the Patriarchate to suspend Metropolitan Joseph and appoint a locum tenens without further delay. We are already receiving complaints that the Patriarch’s message lacks substance.

To our beloved in the Lord,
The hierarchs, priests, deacons, and spiritual children of our Holy Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America,

“Peace be to all!”

I begin this letter with this greeting of peace, a greeting that we proclaim in every Divine Service. My desire is to express to you that we, in your Mother Church, where “the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26), are united with you always and in all circumstances, in the peace of Christ. This peace crosses all distances to reach you whenever we pray, and I hear in my heart your answer comes back to us: “And with thy spirit.” Read More

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

Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) Bishop G. Joseph

Orthodoxy in Dialogue has learned from a number of insider sources at Englewood that Fawaz El Khoury, vice-chairman of the Archdiocesan Board of Trustees, has spoken to Patriarch John of Antioch about our reporting on Bishop G. Joseph’s (aka Metropolitan Joseph Al-Zehlaoui) alleged affairs. The Metropolitan was asked to resign, but refuses to do so. At the same time, however, he cancels archpastoral visits to parishes at the last minute out of shame of showing his face in public.

Most stunning, a number of AOCA parishes refused to commemorate the Metropolitan in yesterday’s Sunday Liturgy, a flagrant act of breaking communion with their primate. We are told that he has no friends anywhere coming to his defense.

We remind our readers that the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America is an autonomous ecclesiastical entity, not autocephalous. The Patriarchate of Antioch has the canonical authority to assign the Archdiocese’s bishops; the Patriarchate thus has the canonical authority to suspend and ultimately depose the Archdiocese’s bishops. Read More

At 1:14 p.m. on Thursday, August 25, Metropolitan Joseph’s administrative assistant, Mariline Abou Hamad, sent the following email on behalf of Father Thomas Zain, Vicar General of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, to the clergy of the Archdiocese in response to Orthodoxy in Dialogue’s reporting over the preceding three days. For context see the Metropolitan Joseph: The Scandal section in our Archives 2020-22 linked at the top of this page.

Beloved Brothers in Christ:

As you may now be aware, there has been an accusation (of a violation of the Church canons) against His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph. The Antiochian Archdiocese takes all accusations against a clergyman very seriously and investigates them for the protection of all parties concerned. His Eminence denies the accusation against him and asks that you keep him in your prayers during this difficult time.

Please refrain from commenting on this subject or sharing anything you see about it in traditional and social media. Encourage others to do the same and direct them to this statement that appears at https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/1317. If you are contacted by a member of the news media for comment, please refer that person to Subdeacon Peter Samore, the director of our Department of Communications, at communications@antiochian.org. Read More